木糖醇無糖口香糖對人體牙菌斑及突變形鏈球菌之影響   全文下載

Effects of Xylitol in Chewing Gum on Dental Plaque and Streptococcus mutans

本實驗篩選40位年齡介於20至39歲之成年人，來檢測咀嚼含木糖醇之「益齒達R無糖口香糖──薄荷」兩週後，是否會影響牙菌斑堆積量和突變形鏈球菌數量。四十位受檢者隨機分成實驗組及對照組，每組20人。實驗組受檢者每天咀嚼益齒達R無糖口香糖五次，每次一片，為期兩週。在咀嚼前及兩週後，收集全部牙齒之牙齦上牙菌斑，並立即稱重。牙菌斑經十倍數稀釋後，塗抹於MsB及BHI培養基上，以計算突變形鏈球菌數目及總菌數目。對照組在實驗期間不可咀嚼任何廠牌口香糖。結果顯示實驗組受試者在咀嚼木糖醇無糖口香糖兩週後，牙菌斑堆積量明顯地減少21.58%（p < 0.01），而突變形鏈球菌數量亦顯著地減少23.14%（p < 0.05）。對照組在兩週前及後之牙菌斑堆積量與突變形鏈球菌數量皆無顯著的改變。因牙菌斑堆積量及牙菌斑內突變形鏈球菌數量是引起齲齒之危險因子，故由本研究結果可推論：長期咀嚼木糖醇無糖口香糖有降低齲齒形成之功效。

Effects of “Wrigley’s Extra® Sugarfree Chewing Gum • Peppermint” on plaque accumulation and Streptococcus mutans, two indices of potential dental caries and periodontal diseases, were examined in healthy adult volunteers. Forty healthy volunteers aged between 20 and 39 were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. Subjects in the experimental group chewed 5 sticks of “Wrigley’s Extra® Sugarfree Chewing Gum • Peppermint” daily for two weeks; those in the control group did not chew any gum. In the beginning and the end of study, plaque on all teeth of the subjects was collected and weighed. Results indicated that the group that chewed xylitol sugar free chewing gum for 2 weeks showed significant decrease in both plaque accumulation (21.58%, p < 0.01) and S. mutans counts (23.14%, p < 0.05) while those in the control group showed no significant changes. The results thus indicated that chewing xylitol chewing gum could decrease the likelihood of dental caries.