ORAL HEALTH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROGRAM
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Title Mothers Who Chew Xylitol Sweetened Gum Help Reduce Dental caries In Their Children
Clinical Question In healthy mothers with children, does xylitol sweetened gum help reduce the prevalence of dental caries in their children as opposed to mothers who do not chew xylitol sweetened gum?
Clinical Bottom Line Studies show that there can be a significant reduction in dental caries of children whose mothers chew xylitol sweetened gum. (See Comments on the CAT below)
Best Evidence (you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link)
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type
(level of evidence)
#1) 17164069Thorild/2006173 mothers with high counts of salivary mutans streptococciRandomized Controlled Trial
Key resultsLess caries were observed in children of mothers who chewed xylitol sweetened gum during the time of eruption of the first primary teeth as compared to children with mothers who used gums containing fluoride and sorbitol.
#2) 15841810Thorild/2004173 mothers with high counts of salivary mutans streptococciRandomized Controlled Trial
Key resultsLower, but non-significant levels of dental decay were observed in children whose mothers used xylitol gum compared to children whose mothers chewed gum containing sorbitol and lower amounts of xylitol.
#3) 11145360Isokangas/2000195 mothers with high salivary mutans streptococci levelsRandomized Controlled Trial
Key resultsAt the age of 5 years old, children whose mother chewed xylitol sweetened gum had 70% reduction in dental caries as compared with children whose mothers only received varnish treatment.
Evidence Search Search "dental caries"[Mesh] AND "Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical"[Mesh] AND "xylitol"[Mesh] Limits: Meta-Analysis, Randomized Controlled Trial, Search "dental caries"[Mesh] AND "Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical"[Mesh] AND "xylitol"[Mesh], Search "dental caries'[Mesh] AND "Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical"[Mesh] AND "xylitol"[Mesh],Search "xylitol"[Mesh]Search "Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical"[Mesh]
Comments on
The Evidence
Thorild (2006) was a randomized controlled clinical trial. 173 mothers participated and were randomly assigned into one of three experimental chewing gum groups. There was more than a 80% completion rate with adequate follow-up and compliance. Thorild (2004) was a randomized controlled clinical trial. 173 mothers were randomly assigned to chew 1 of 3 types of chewing gum. An adequate follow-up was completed one year later. Isokangas (2000) was a follow up on the occurrence of dental caries in 5-year-old children whose mothers chewed xylitol sweetened gum and those whose mother only received fluoride and varnish treatment. There was adequate follow-up and compliance.
Applicability I find these case studies applicable to a typical pediatric patient due to the significant reduction in the occurrence of dental caries in children whose mother chew xylitol gum during their development of primary dentition.
Specialty/Discipline (General Dentistry) (Pediatric Dentistry)
Keywords Dental cariesXylitolInfectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
ID# 614
Date of submission: 04/08/2010spacer
E-mail vuu@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Author Lyna Vuu
Co-author(s)
Co-author(s) e-mail
Faculty mentor/Co-author Kevin Donly, DDS, MS
Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail DONLY@uthscsa.edu
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?)
post a rationale
None available
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Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs)
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by Paul Russell and Ryan Reyes (San Antonio, TX) on 08/09/2013
We conducted a PubMed search in August 2013 and found three more recent RCT’s. PMIDs: 21496650 , 19948944 , and 19552232 . While all these studies do not agree with each other, the majority of the evidence points to some benefit to children whose mothers chew a xylitol containing gum. Mothers should be encouraged to chew xylitol containing chewing gum to help reduce caries causing bacteria in their children.
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