Effects of sugar alcohols on the growth of caries and periodontal pathogens

Abstract

Caries and periodontal disease affect the body’s general condition and interfere with activities of daily living. There are various means to prevent these. Xylitol is reportedly effective for caries, but there are few reports on its association with periodontal disease. Erythritol, a type of sugar alcohol, is a non-metabolizable sweetener, although unlike xylitol, it is easily digested and absorbed. Herein, we focused on sugar alcohols, and investigated the effects of xylitol and erythritol on the cariogenic pathogen Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis).

S. mutans and P. gingivalis were each cultured in a medium containing 1% sugar alcohols, and the turbidity (optical density at 560 nm) was measured as growth. Moreover, to examine the effects of sugar alcohol concentration on the growth of S. mutans and P. gingivalis, sugar alcohols at concentrations of 0.63%, 1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, 10% and 20% were mixed and cultured, and spot tests and turbidity measurements were performed.

In this study, xylitol and erythritol exhibited antiproliferative effects on S. mutans and P. gingivalis. To date, xylitol has been known mainly for its association with caries prevention; however, it may prevent periodontal disease at high concentrations. Erythritol may also be expected to prevent caries and periodontal disease.