Maltitol lozenges and tooth decay in schoolchildren
What it found
In children, lozenges containing xylitol/maltitol or erythritol/maltitol did not reduce tooth decay compared with comprehensive prevention alone.
The trial ran for 4 years in an area with natural fluoride in the water.
What they found
Studies in people
Tooth decay
Use of xylitol/maltitol or erythritol/maltitol lozenges did not result in caries reduction.
Baseline decay
A strong relationship was observed between baseline caries prevalence and the 4-year increment.
What the authors conclude
“The results suggest that in relatively low-caries conditions the school-based use of xylitol/maltitol or erythritol/maltitol lozenges would not have additional caries-preventive effect when compared with comprehensive prevention.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that in relatively low-caries conditions the school-based use of xylitol/maltitol or erythritol/maltitol lozenges would not have additional caries-preventive effect when compared with comprehensive prevention.
How it was done
Xylitol studies suggest caries reductions in the order of 50%, and based on animal and microbial studies, erythritol potentially has caries-preventive properties. Clinical studies are required to confirm this.
Five hundred and seventy-nine 10-year-old children from 21 schools were randomly assigned to one of five groups. Four groups used lozenges on school days, in three teacher-supervised sessions daily, over 1 or 2 years, with daily amounts of 4.7 g/4.6 g for xylitol/maltitol and 4.5 g/4.2 g for erythritol/maltitol. Four hundred and ninety-six children were analysed, with dentin caries measured by clinical examination at 4 years.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The trial was in children in a low-caries population with natural fluoridation, so the results may not apply to other groups or settings.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Carea Joint Municipal Authority for Medical and Social Services in Kymenlaakso, Finland
The paper
- Title
- The caries-preventive effect of xylitol/maltitol and erythritol/maltitol lozenges: results of a double-blinded, cluster-randomized clinical trial in an area of natural fluoridation
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Lenkkeri AM, Pienihäkkinen K, Hurme S, Alanen P (2012). The caries-preventive effect of xylitol/maltitol and erythritol/maltitol lozenges: results of a double-blinded, cluster-randomized clinical trial in an area of natural fluoridation. International journal of paediatric dentistry. doi:10.1111/j.1365-263X.2011.01182.xPubMed 21951305DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error