Xylitol Disk Use in Adults With Dry Mouth

University of Washington

Status: Completed

Conditions: Mutans Streptococci; Xerostomia

Treatments: Other: Xylitol disk

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01823445

XM2013

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate whether decay causing bacteria are reduced when adhesive xylitol disks are used intraorally three times a day for two weeks in adults with dry mouth.

Full description

Xylitol,an FDA approved sugar substitute, has been shown to reduce tooth decay. Patients who experience dry mouth may be more susceptible to dental decay because they lack the protection provided by an adequate flow of saliva. These patients are likely to have high levels of the decay causing bacteria, mutans streptococci.

The purpose of this research is to test the ability of a novel xylitol delivery vehicle to reduce mutans streptococci in patients with dry mouth over a two week period. The delivery vehicle is a slowly dissolving xylitol disk (lozenge) that adheres to soft tissues inside the mouth. Participants will place disks on both sides of the mouth three times a day.

Enrollment: 7 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adults 21 years old or older
• Daily use of at least 2 prescription medications known to cause dry mouth
• Current report of dry mouth

Exclusion criteria

• Antibiotic use in the last month
• Topical oral antimicrobial (e.g. Chlorhexidine rinse) use in the last month
• Change in medication or dose within the last month
• Use of mouthwash within the last week
• Use of lozenges or chewing gum with 500 mg or more of xylitol on a habitual basis
• History of gastrointestinal disease

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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7 participants in 1 patient group

Xylitol disk

Experimental group

Description:

Daily use of 8 disks containing 0.5 grams xylitol each for two weeks. The disks adhere to gum tissue with a food grade adhesive backing and slowly dissolve. The disks are applied one on each side of the mouth in the morning after breakfast, again at midday, and four are applied, two on each side, at bedtime.

Treatment:

Other: Xylitol disk