Effect of xylitol-containing chewing gum on sorbitol metabolism in dental plaque.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether a long-term use of chewing gum with xylitol as the only sweetener would affect sorbitol metabolism in dental plaque. Ten test subjects used xylitol-sweetened chewing gum for 12 weeks. Plaque was collected at three occasions; 1) Control plaque; 2) Test plaque I: plaque collected after 12 weeks of chewing xylitol-containing chewing gum; 3) Test plaque II: sucrose-stimulated plaque collected 2 d after Test plaque I was collected. Plaque suspensions were incubated with [14C]sorbitol, and uptake of sorbitol and production of sorbitol metabolites were determined by HPLC. Plaque formation and sorbitol uptake were significantly reduced.