The Effect of Adding Calcium Lactate to Xylitol Chewing Gum on Remineralization of Enamel Lesions

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine whether adding calcium lactate to chewing gum containing xylitol enhances remineralization of enamel surfaces using an early caries lesion model. Enamel slabs were cut from human extracted sound teeth and artificial subsurface lesions created within each. Half the enamel slabs were used as controls and stored in a humidifier while half were mounted into oral appliances worn by 10 volunteers (22–27 years old, 2 males and 8 females) in a three-leg trial, during which they wore the appliance without chewing gum, chewed gum containing xylitol + calcium lactate or chewed gum containing only xylitol 4 times a day for 2 weeks. Calcium concentrations in the enamel surfaces of control and test slabs were measured by X-ray spectrometry and degrees of remineralization were calculated. The mean degree of remineralization was greater after chewing xylitol-Ca gum (0.46 ± 0.10) than after no gum (0.16 ± 0.14) or after chewing xylitol gum (0.33 ± 0.10) (p < 0.01). In conclusion, chewing gum containing xylitol + calcium lactate could enhance remineralization of enamel surface compared to chewing gum containing only xylitol or no gum chewing.

Sugar Alcohols, Caries Incidence, and Remineralization of Caries Lesions: A Literature Review

“…Artificial caries-like lesions were created in human enamel slabs which were subsequently worn by volunteers who used, in a three-leg study, over a period of two weeks, chewing gum containing either xylitol or xylitol + Ca lactate, or did not receive any gum [163]. X-ray spectrometry showed that the xylitol-Ca combination remineralized the lesions more effectively than the xylitol and the no-gum periods.…”

Oral care gum products

“…Combinations of xylitol with other organic and inorganic compounds in a gum can signifi cantly increase the rate of remineralisation. Such compounds include calcium lactate (Suda et al, 2006) and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate nanocomplexes (Shen et al, 2001;Reynolds et al, 2003, Iijima et al, 2004. The latter ('Recaldent' formula) are chemically interesting, owing to the presence in the casein phosphopeptide of several phosphoseryl residues that contribute to the stabilisation of nanoclusters of amorphous calcium phosphate in metastable solutions (Reynolds 1998).…”

Effect of a xylitol and fluoride containing toothpaste on the remineralization of human enamel in vitro

“…Hiroshi Sano 1) , Syozi Nakashima 2) , Yupin Songpaisan 3) and Prathip Phantumvanit Original combination with fluoride in topical oral products, such as toothpaste, is not clear with respect to the remineralization process.…”

“…The caries inhibiting effect of xylitol has so far been demonstrated by its ability to inhibit the growth and metabolism of the mutans group of streptococci and dental plaque. Xylitol containing products including toothpaste, gum and mouth rinse have shown anticaries properties (1)(2)(3)(4), possibly due to the effects of xylitol on plaque formation, microorganisms, salivary secretion and composition, and on enamel lesions.…”