Kauko K. M€akinen 1, Kirsti L.
J€arvinen , Carita H. Anttila 2, Leena M. Luntamo
and Tero Vahlberg
Institute of Dentistry, University of
Turku, Turku, Finland; 2Uusikaupunki Public Health Centre,
Uusikaupunki, Finland; 3Department of Biostatistics, Medical Faculty,
University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Objectives: This demonstration
programme tested topical use of xylitol as a possible oral health
promoting regimen in infants at a Finnish Public Health Centre in
2002–2011. Methods: Parents (usually mothers) began once- or
twice-daily administration of a 45% solution of xylitol (2.96 M) onto
all available deciduous teeth of their children at the age of
approximately 6–8 months. The treatment (xylitol swabbing), which
continued till the age of approximately 36 months
(total duration 26–28 months), was
carried out using cotton swabs or a children’s toothbrush; the
approximate daily xylitol usage was 13.5 mg per each deciduous tooth.
Results: At the age of 7 years, caries data on the deciduous
dentition of 80 children were compared with those obtained from
similar, untreated children (n= 90). Xylitol swabbing resulted in a
significant (P< 0.001) reduction in the incidence of enamel and
dentine caries compared with the comparison subjects (relative risk
2.1 and 4.0, respectively; 95% confidence intervals 1.42–3.09 and
2.01–7.98, respectively).
Similar findings were obtained when
the children were 5 or 6 years old. The treatment reduced the need of
tooth filling relative risk and 95% confidence intervals at 7
years: 11.86 and 6.36–22.10, respectively; P< 0.001). Compared
with untreated subjects, the oral counts of mutans streptococci were
reduced significantly (P< 0.001).
Conclusions: Considerable
improvement in dental health was accomplished in infants
participating in a topical at-home xylitol administration experiment,
which was offered to families in the area by the Public Health Centre
as a supplement to standard oral
health care. Caregiver assessment of
the programme was mostly rated as high or satisfactory.
International Dental Journal 2013; 63: 210–224
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