Effects of xylitol on the acid production activity from sorbitol by Streptococcus mutans and human dental plaque.

-A method for the determination of acid production from 20-25 mg (wet weight) of Streptococcus mutans and 12-33 mg (wet weight) of human dental plaque is described. After endogenous acid production had been followed, either sorbitol or xylitol or a mixture of sorbitol and xylitol (2:1) was added. After about ten minutes glucose, sucrose or Palatinose were added for a vitality test. Addition of xylitol to the bacterial suspension caused inhibition of acid production from sorbitol by Streptococcus mutans grown on sorbitol or a mixture of sorbitol and glucose. It was also observed that it had a similar effect on acid production from sorbitol in suspensions of dental plaque with few exceptions. On the other hand, Streptococcus mutans cells grown on glucose, sucrose and xylitol media, produced no or insignificant amounts of acid from sorbitol. Streptococcus mutans cells grown on media containing glucose, sucrose, sorbitol and a mixture of sorbitol and glucose generally formed a large amount of acid from glucose and sucrose after the addition of sorbitol and xylitol. However, Streptococcus mutans cells grown on a medium containing xylitol and the mixture of sorbitol and xylitol formed less acid from glucose. The acid production activity from sorbitol in suspensions of dental plaque after the xylitol addition was somewhat lower than the acid production from sorbitol alone (p less than 0.02).