Plaque · Adults and children (predominantly adults; one study in children), with natural dentition
Xylitol sugar-free gum significantly reduced plaque quantity versus no-gum/control (SMD -0.743, 95% CI -1.148 to -0.338), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 86.0%; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults and children (predominantly adults; one study in children), with natural dentition
Sugar-free chewing gum significantly reduced plaque quantity versus no-gum/control (SMD -0.778, 95% CI -1.167 to -0.390), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 86.6%) and no GRADE rating (ungraded).
2 findings from 1 review
Streptococcus mutans load in the oral cavity (saliva and/or dental plaque) · Adults and children (general population)
Xylitol-only sugar-free gum significantly reduced Streptococcus mutans load versus pooled controls (SMD -0.46, 95% CI -0.64 to -0.28; 12 trials, I2 43%); certainty not formally graded.
1 finding from 1 review
Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) count in saliva · healthy people
Xylitol significantly reduced Mutans streptococci in saliva compared with no intervention (SMD -1.47, 95% CI -1.94 to -0.99; 3 trials), though heterogeneity was very high (I2=98%); not GRADE-rated.
1 finding from 1 review
Streptococcus mutans load in the oral cavity (saliva and/or dental plaque) · Adults and children (general population)
In a sensitivity analysis assuming a 0.95 baseline-to-endpoint correlation for the sugar-free gum arm, the effect remained significant (SMD -0.55, 95% CI -0.80 to -0.30; 13 trials, I2 73%); certainty not formally graded.
2 findings from 1 review
Xylitol chewing gum vs No treatment or non-cariogenic control
Outcome not reported · Children and adults
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries presence in primary teeth · For interventions, pregnant women and mothers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6 years of age
It is very uncertain whether consumption of xylitol chewing gum by women (mothers) changes caries presence in primary teeth compared with consumption of CHX/xylitol gum by women, or CHX varnish applied to… (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Child microbiological presence (any mutans streptococci colonisation) · For interventions, pregnant women and mothers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6 years of age
Consumption of xylitol chewing gum by women (mothers) led to lower child microbiological presence (any mutans streptococci colonisation) compared with consumption of CHX/xylitol gum by women, or CHX varnish applied to…; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.60 [0.45, 0.81]
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Mother microbiological presence (mutans streptococci colonisation level, CFU/mL) · For interventions, pregnant women and mothers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6 years of age
Consumption of xylitol chewing gum by women (mothers) led to higher mother microbiological presence (mutans streptococci colonisation… compared with consumption of CHX/xylitol gum by women, or CHX varnish applied to…; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
defs index score · For interventions, pregnant women and mothers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6 years of age
It is very uncertain whether consumption of xylitol chewing gum by women (mothers) changes defs index score (categories) compared with consumption of CHX/xylitol gum by women, or CHX varnish applied to… (very low certainty).
2 findings from 1 review
Thorild 2003 defs score categories (very low-certainty): 1-3 defs RR 0.48 (95% CI 0.15 to 1.54); 3-4 defs RR 0.85 (95% CI 0.18 to 3.98); >=5 defs RR 0.28 (95% CI 0.01 to 6.78); 96 participants.
1 study · 96 participants
Very low
MD -0.28 [-0.83, 0.27]
1 study · 96 participants
Very low
Dental caries · For interventions, pregnant women and mothers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6 years of age
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
2 findings from 1 review
Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) count in dental plaque · healthy people
Xylitol significantly reduced Mutans streptococci in dental plaque compared with no treatment (SMD -0.73, 95% CI -1.09 to -0.37; 5 trials, I2=53%; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
Infant dental caries · Pregnant Alaska Native women and their infants
No infant caries outcomes were assessed because the proposed randomized trial was discontinued.
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
1 study
GRADE not reported
Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) count in saliva · healthy people
Xylitol and sorbitol did not differ significantly for Mutans streptococci in saliva (SMD -0.16, 95% CI -0.44 to 0.12; 2 trials, P=.25); not GRADE-rated.
1 finding from 1 review
Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) count in dental plaque · healthy people
Xylitol reduced Mutans streptococci in dental plaque more than sorbitol (SMD -0.45, 95% CI -0.69 to -0.21; 4 trials, I2=7%); not GRADE-rated.
1 finding from 1 review