Xylitol and erythritol decrease adherence of polysaccharide-producing oral streptococci.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
In vitro laboratory study without human participants.
PubMed 19777305 · doi:10.1007/s00284-009-9496-6
What was done
Researchers tested the effects of 2% and 4% xylitol and erythritol on the growth and glass-surface adherence of polysaccharide-producing oral streptococci, including type strains and clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, and other oral streptococci such as Streptococcus sanguinis. Adherence to smooth glass was measured to reflect water-insoluble polysaccharide synthesis.
What was found
Adherence to glass was reduced by 4% xylitol and 4% erythritol in most tested strains, except S. mutans 10449 and S. sobrinus OMZ 176. Growth inhibition at 4% concentration reached 36-77% for S. mutans and S. sobrinus type strains, 13-73% for clinical S. mutans isolates, and 45-55% for S. sanguinis with xylitol only. The extent of growth inhibition did not correlate with adherence reduction for either xylitol (r = -0.18) or erythritol (r = 0.49).
Why it matters
The findings indicate that polyols like xylitol and erythritol limit oral streptococcal adherence through mechanisms independent of direct growth inhibition, clarifying how they may reduce dental plaque accumulation.
Limits
This was strictly an in vitro study using glass surfaces rather than in vivo oral tissues or saliva-coated enamel, and the abstract does not report the exact number of clinical isolates tested.
Cited by
- supports Xylitol feeds beneficial oral bacteria, stops plaque bacteria from multiplying on teeth, and makes plaque less adhesive.