SUBJECTS
The subjects were 195 children born to mothers with high levels of mutans streeptococci (MS) in their saliva (CFU ≥ 105/mL). The study was carried out at the Ylivieska Health Center in central Finland.
EXPOSURE
Three treatments were investigated:120 mothers were assigned to chew xylitol gum (100% xylitol gum) 2 or 3 times a day, and 32 and 36 mothers were assigned to receive fluoride applications and chlorhexidine varnish, respectively, at 6, 12, and 18 months after delivery.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Detectable colonization of MS (>20 CFU/sample) in their children at 6 years of age.
MAIN RESULTS
Of the 6-year old children in 99 the xylitol group, 52% had detectable MS colonization. The percentages of children with colonization in the fluoride and the chlorhexidine groups were
84% and 86%, respectively. This difference suggested that the children in the xylitol group
were about 30% less likely to be infected with MS than were the children in either the fluoride or
the chlorhexidine group
.
