Nine sugars and sugar alcohols were assessed for their effect on experimental caries with an Intraoral Cariogenicity Test (ICT). Sample bovine enamel surfaces were submitted to simulated cariogenic conditions in the human mouth. The extent of experimental cariogenesis after 1 week was measured by means of surface microhardness tests on enamel samples. Each test sugar was compared to sucrose control, and supplied to one of the two ICT plaques at the same time. There was no detectable difference in the effect of glucose, fructose, and raffinose on ICT cariogenesis. Lactose, mannitol, melibiose, and sorbitol were significantly less cariogenic than sucrose (p < 0.05), while xylose and xylitol were noncariogenic.

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