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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Jul 31;63(2):E282-E287.
doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2022.63.2.1772. eCollection 2022 Jun.

Antimicrobial efficacy of Xylitol, Probiotic and Chlorhexidine mouth rinses among children and elderly population at high risk for dental caries - A Randomized Controlled Trial

N C Krupa  1 , H M Thippeswamy  1 , B R Chandrashekar  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Antimicrobial efficacy of Xylitol, Probiotic and Chlorhexidine mouth rinses among children and elderly population at high risk for dental caries - A Randomized Controlled Trial

N C Krupa et al. J Prev Med Hyg. .

Abstract

Introduction: Chlorhexidine is considered the most potent chemotherapeutic agent against Streptococcus mutans. However, its side effects due to prolonged use, indicates need for alternatives. The study intended to assess and compare antimicrobial efficacies of probiotic, xylitol and chlorhexidine mouth rinses in children and elderly.

Methods: The study was a Double blind Randomized Controlled Trial conducted among residential school children aged 5-12 years and elderly greater than 60 years residing in old age homes. (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04399161). 30 participants each among children and elderly were chosen based on eligibility criterion (high risk for caries). They were further randomly divided into 3 groups with 10 participants in each group. Participants were asked to rinse with 15 ml of freshly prepared mouth rinses once daily for 2 minutes for 14 days. Antimicrobial efficacy was determined by assessing change in Streptococcus mutans levels in dental plaque.

Results: Significant reduction in Streptococcus mutans counts were observed in both children and elderly (Chlorhexidine: mean difference = 3.11 log10CFU/g, p = 0.022, Xylitol: mean difference = 0.93 log10CFU/g, p = 0.046, Probiotic: mean difference = 1.91 log10CFU/g, p = 0.023 in children); (Chlorhexidine: mean difference = 2.23 log10CFU/g, p = 0.004, Xylitol: mean difference = 1.39 log10CFU/g, p = 0.009, Probiotic: mean difference = 1.61 log10CFU/g, p = 0.018 in elderly). Intergroup comparison showed no significant difference.

Conclusions: Antimicrobial efficacy of xylitol and probiotic mouth rinses were comparable to that of chlorhexidine in both children and elderly. Probiotics could potentially be more efficacious than xylitol among children.

Keywords: Dental caries; Probiotics; Streptococcus mutans; Xylitol.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Flow of participants throughout the study.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Percentage reduction in Streptococcus mutans counts in children and elderly after using the three mouth rinses.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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