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Noncariogenicity of maltitol in specific pathogen-free rats infected with mutans streptococci
T Ooshima1, A Izumitani, T Minami
1Department of Pedodontics, Osaka University Faculty of Dentistry, Japan.
Abstract:
The effect of maltitol on caries development was examined in an experimental caries system employing specific pathogen-free (SPF) Sprague-Dawley rats. Fourteen strains of oral streptococci, including mutans streptococci, did not utilize the maltitol nor produce sufficient acid to demineralize tooth enamel. Furthermore, maltitol did not serve as a substrate for glucosyltransferases of either Streptococcus mutans MT8148R or Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 to synthesize water-insoluble glucan. Maltitol induced no significant dental caries in SPF rats infected with these mutans streptococci, and replacement of the dietary sucrose content with maltitol resulted in a trend towards caries reduction in SPF rats.