Sugar substitutes that decrease cariogenic acid production in plaque bacteria

Abstract

Carious lesions result from the demineralization of enamel exposured to acid produced by plaque bacteria. When exposed to glucide, plaque bacteria readily produce an acidic environment as a byproduct of their normal metabolic activity. In order to inhibit this acid formation and reduce caries, we developed sweeteners that plaque bacteria are incapable of fermenting into cariogenic acid. If coupling sugar, fructooligosaccharide, aspartame and similar products are low- or non-cariogenic, we think that xylitol is an anti-cariogenic substitute. Xylitol inhibits the growth of plaque bacteria and reduces the amount of plaque and number of Streptococcus mutans. This is because it inhibits their glycolytic system and production of futile xylitol.