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The aim of the present study was to determine the remineralization effects of xylitol chewing gum containing funoran and calcium hydrogenphosphate on enamel subsurface lesions in humans. The study was a double-blind, randomized, cross-over design, with 4 types of gum: (1) xylitol gum, (2) xylitol gum containing funoran and calcium hydrogenphosphate, (3) sugar gum, and (4) gum base as a control. Seven subjects were instructed to wear removable lingual appliances, with half-slab insets of human enamel containing demineralized subsurface lesions. They were told to chew gum for 20 minutes 4 times per day for 7 days. Upon completion of each treatment the enamel half-slabs were paired with their respective demineralized control half-slabs, embedded, sectioned, and subjected to microradiography and densitometric image analysis, for measurement of the level of remineralization. The mean area of remineralization (deltaZd-deltaZr) and mean percent remineralization (%R) in those chewing xylitol gum containing funoran and calcium hydrogenphosphate were significantly higher than the corresponding values for xylitol gum, sugar gum and gum base. Chewing xylitol gum containing funoran and calcium hydrogenphosphate has a significant effect on the remineralization of initial caries-like lesions of the teeth.

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This study aimed to investigate the effects of some snack foods on plaque pH in children with different levels of mutans streptococci (MS). Six children, aged 9-12 years, with low (<10(4)) and 6 children, aged 10-12 years, with high (>106) numbers of MS/ml saliva participated in the study. Dental plaque pH changes, after the consumption of milk chocolate, sweet biscuit, instant noodle, sticky rice with banana and a 10% sucrose positive control were measured using pH-electrode. The measurements of plaque pH were made on forty-eight-hour accumulated plaque, at baseline to determine the resting pH of the fasted plaque and at time intervals of 2, 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes after food consumption. The plaque pH curves, delta pH values and area under curve for pH 6.0 for each test food were determined. Plaque acidogenicity was more pronounced for the high-MS group at almost all test periods compared to the low-MS group with all test foods. The test foods were ranked according to maximum pH drop in about the same order in both groups as follows: 10% sucrose > milk chocolate > sweet biscuit > sticky rice with banana > instant noodle. The plaque pH also stayed below pH 6.00 for a longer period in the high-MS group with sweet biscuit, milk chocolate, and sticky rice with banana. Findings suggest that pH responses were more acidic in high-MS group than low-MS group.

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Previous studies have shown that Self Arresting Caries Treatment (SACT) may be a useful technique to arrest active caries in Thai preschool children in remote areas. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of SACT on the levels of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in Thai children. Eighty-two subjects aged 4-6 years from primary school in a remote area of Thailand were recruited for this study. Each subject has at least two pairs of interproximal carious cavities between the first and second deciduous molars, and no history of severe pain. The subjects were divided into the control and SACT groups. The SACT technique was performed by removing food remnants and the surrounding overhang enamel of the carious cavity walls to enlarge the space between the carious cavities. The levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in paraffin-stimulated whole saliva were determined at baseline, 2 and 4 months after treatment compared to those of the control group by the spatula method. The bacterial growth score was divided into three categories: 1 = 0-20 CFU, 2 = 21-100 CFU, and 3 > or = 100 CFU. At baseline, no differences in the mutans streptococci and lactobacilli scores were found between the SACT and control groups (p>0.05). Lower salivary lactobacilli levels were found in the SACT group on follow-up at 2 and 4 months (p<0.05), whereas the mutans streptococci level remained unchanged during these time periods. Our data confirms that the SACT technique can promote a self cleansing condition for interproximal lesions and can reduce the retentive sites in the oral cavity due to a reduction in salivary lactobacilli.

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Dental caries are one of the most common infectious diseases occurred in Thai children. The chewing of xylitol, sorbitol, and even sugar gum has been suggested to reduce caries rates. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of xylitol chewing gum on mutans streptococci (MS) in saliva and dental plaque. Ninety-one children, aged 10-12 years, with more than 1 x 10(5) MS per milliliter of saliva were included in this study. They were divided into three groups balanced according to their MS counts at baseline: one control group (no supervised gum use), and two xylitol groups (supervised 55% and 100% xylitol gum use). Whole saliva and pooled plaque samples were obtained after 90 school days. When comparing the MS counts between the groups, those chewing 100% and 55% xylitol gum showed significant reductions (p < 0.025), but a dose response effect was not demonstrated. Chewing 100% xylitol gum caused significant reductions on salivary MS scores (p < 0.025) which was little different from the 55% xylitol group. The results suggest that the use of xylitol chewing gum can reduce the levels of MS in plaque and saliva.

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Inflammation changes the microcirculatory and micromorphological dynamics of human gingiva. Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and a replica technique for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to examine the facial soft tissues of six maxillary anterior teeth, before and after treatment, in 12 patients exhibiting clinically healthy tissues and in 12 others with moderate gingivitis. All patients received oral hygiene instructions and scaling. The gingiva in the gingivitis group became healthy within 3 months after treatment. LDF results were recorded at the free gingivae, interdental gingivae, attached gingivae, and alveolar mucosae of the six maxillary anterior teeth. The gingival blood flows in the gingivitis group before treatment were significantly different from those in the healthy gingiva group. Flows were restored to the same level as the healthy gingiva, with no significant difference, at P > 0.01, 3 months after treatment. However, there were significant differences among sites during the same period. In addition, blood flow was reduced to a normal level after the inflammation subsided. Initially, the gingival morphology of the inflamed sites exhibited irregular free gingival margins, in contrast to that of healthy gingivae, which were characterized by rounded margins closely adapted to the tooth. One month post-treatment, the gingivae exhibited a wrinkled appearance, but they had reverted to normal micromorphology by 3 months post-treatment. The replica impression technique can be used to record gingival micromorphology both before and after reduction of inflammation.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microcirculation in healthy human gingiva. Forty-two adult volunteers with clinically healthy gingiva participated. The ages of this research sample ranged from 20 to 30 years. Periodontal conditions were evaluated and assessed by using the qualitative plaque index, gingival index, gingival bleeding index, tooth mobility, and laser Doppler flow-metry (LDF) on 12 maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth. The LDF data were recorded on the facial aspect of the free gingiva, interdental gingiva, attached gingiva, and alveolar mucosa of 12 maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth, utilizing an acrylic stent to stabilize the probe. This technique was then modified to circumvent contamination by saliva and gingival exudate. Blood flow in the maxillary anterior gingiva differed significantly from that in the mandibular anterior gingiva in interdental gingiva, attached gingiva, and alveolar mucosa, at P< 0.01. The maxillary anterior gingiva, at each point on the stent, showed significant differences in the mean LDF, at P< 0.01. For the mandibular anterior gingiva, the difference was significant only in the alveolar mucosa region.