NEW Publication – Sugar Alcohol to Save Teeth

In this new research, Abdullah Al Loman and Dr. Lu-Kwang Ju conclude that arabitol (a low calorie alternative sweetener) can prevent bacteria from causing tooth damage (dental carries).  Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus sobrinus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus fermentum were tested (common oral bacteria).

Inhibition to was first tested with 1% arabitol and glucose as the primary sugar source.  All five bacterial species were inhibited with 1% arabitol and had reduced pH change and cell growth.  However, the inhibition was significantly stronger for Streptococci than Lactobacilli.  The 5 bacteria, in order of their sensitivity to arabitol: S. mutans > S. salivarius, S. sobrinus > L. acidophilus, L. fermentum.

S. mutans and S. salivarius were further tested with with different common sugars: glucose, fructose, galactose, and sucrose. Inhibition occurred for all sugars, yet were more pronounced for glucose and galactose than on fructose and sucrose. Inhibition as a function of arabitol concentration was also determined.  As a comparison to the current xylitol-based sweetener, regardless of the arabitol concentration, sugar substrate, or bacterial species tested, arabitol showed very similar inhibition effects to its xylitol isomer.

The full text appears in the journal Archives of Oral Biology.  For a limited time, you can download the full text free (expires Nov 19 ,2015)

 

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