A Comparative Evaluation of Xylitol Chewing Gum and a Combination of IgY + Xylitol Chewable Tablet on Salivary Streptococcus mutans Count in Children: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Aim: The study was designed for evaluation and comparison of the efficacy of Xylitol chewing gum and a combination of IgY + Xylitol chewable tablet (Nodecay™) against the “salivary Streptococcus mutans” count in children. Materials and methods: About 120 children belonging to 6–12 years age–group were enrolled into this “double-blind randomized control clinical trial” according to the selection criteria. They were randomly assigned to three groups of 40 each: Group I–Xylitol chewing gum, Group II–IgY + Xylitol Chewable tablet (Nodecay™), and Group III–Control. Children in all the groups had to chew the gum/tablet twice daily for 5 minutes during the 15-day period. The salivary samples at baseline, 15 days, 1, 2, and 3 months were inoculated on mitis salivarius bacitracin agar with potassium tellurite medium and the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) of Streptococcus mutans were determined. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis. Result: There was a “significant” difference in the number of “S. mutans CFUs” amongst the three groups at 15 days, 1st month, 2nd month, 3rd month with highest levels of S. mutans CFUs in Group III–Control and least in Group II–IgY + Xylitol (Nodecay™). Conclusion: The combination of IgY + Xylitol (Nodecay™) when administered for 15 days had significant efficacy against “S. mutans” when compared to Xylitol and control group. Clinical significance: Passive immunization with immunoglobulin Y is known not only to decrease the S. mutans count but also confers extended immunity by preventing recolonization of the tooth surface by persistence of the antibodies in saliva.