Effect of Xylitol on Oral Microbiota in Children

1. The present controlled, randomized, doubleblind study aims to answer the following questions: * How will the \"normal flora\" be affected by the xylitol consumption? * Will daily consumption of xylitol change the plaque-saliva distribution of the mutans streptococci? * The association of the test results will also be compared with the caries status at the baseline. 2. About eighty subjects with MS counts of log CFU 5 or more will be identified and invited to the study. They will be randomly divided into a Xylitol and Sorbitol group. 3. Xylitol/Sorbitol gum (6g polyol/day) will be used for 5 weeks. Saliva samples will be collected before and after gum use. 4. Studying and quantifying of 16 bacterial species belonging to the normal flora by DNA-DNA hybridizations and Real-time PCR will show how xylitol influenced the oral flora in general.