Effect of a sugar-free chewing gum containing magnolia bark extract on different variables related to caries and gingivitis: a randomized controlled intervention trial

Caries Res. 2011;45(4):393-9. doi: 10.1159/000330234. Epub 2011 Aug 3.

Abstract

The effect of magnolia bark extract (MBE) on different variables related to caries and gingivitis administered daily through a sugar-free chewing gum was evaluated. The study was performed with healthy adult volunteers at high risk for caries as a randomized double-blind interventional study. 120 subjects with a salivary mutans streptococci (MS) concentration ≥10(5) CFU/ml and presence of bleeding on probing >25% were enrolled and divided into three groups: magnolia, xylitol and control. The study design included examinations at baseline, after 7 days, after 30 days of gum use and 7 days after the end of gum use. Plaque pH was assessed using the strip method following a sucrose challenge. Area under the curve (AUC(5.7) and AUC(6.2)) was recorded. Whole saliva was collected and the number of salivary MS (CFU/ml) was counted. Bleeding on probing was recorded as a proxy of dental plaque. Data were analyzed using ANOVA repeated measures. Magnolia gum significantly reduced plaque acidogenicity, MS salivary concentration and gingival bleeding compared to xylitol and control gums. Subjects from the magnolia and xylitol groups showed both MS concentration (p = 0.01 and 0.06, respectively) and AUC(5.7) (p = 0.01 and 0.04, respectively) to be significantly lower compared to baseline. Thirty-day use of a chewing gum containing MBE showed beneficial effects on oral health, including reduction of salivary MS, plaque acidogenicity and bleeding on probing.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Area Under Curve
  • Chewing Gum*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Dental Caries / drug therapy
  • Dental Caries / prevention & control*
  • Dental Plaque / chemistry
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Gingivitis / drug therapy
  • Gingivitis / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Magnolia*
  • Male
  • Periodontal Index
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Bark
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Saliva / microbiology
  • Streptococcus mutans / isolation & purification
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sweetening Agents / therapeutic use
  • Xylitol / therapeutic use
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Chewing Gum
  • Plant Extracts
  • Sweetening Agents
  • Xylitol