Low concentration of xylitol improves children tooth protection against Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation

Objective: Dental caries is the most prevalent chronic disease in childhood. It is a social disease, which causes search for effective methods of its prevention. Due to its inhibitory action on Streptococcus mutans , xylitol is a readily used supplement. The purpose of the study was a determination of the effect of 0.01% concentration of xylitol on monospecies S. mutans biofilm formation. Design: Clinical strains were acquired from 64 children aged 4.7 ± 0.81 years. The study group included children with caries and patients without carious lesions. The isolates identified using a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer. The effect of 0.01% xylitol on monospecies biofilm formation after 8, 24, 48 and 72 h of culturing was evaluated. The produced biofilms were evaluated by determining the biofilm biomass, microorganism concentration and analyzing structure in a scanning electron microscope. Results: The biofilm biomass treated with xylitol was, at every time point, significantly lower (p < 0.001), in both study groups of children compared to the biofilm not treated with xylitol. A statistically significant decrease in the biofilm-forming capacity with xylitol in CFU/mL was obtained after 48 h in both groups. Conclusions: The anti-biofilm efficacy of xylitol at low concentrations, justifies its use in caries prevention in children.