Xylitol is a sugar alcohol naturally
found in plants that is used as an artificial sweetener in
many foods. [32] Its anticariogenic properties were
investigated by adding 0.78–50% xylitol to broth
cultures of S. mutans, S. saliviarius and S. sanguis,
incubating at 37° C for 18 hrs and determining the
optical density of the cultures. Streptococcus mutans
was the only bacterium significantly inhibited by
xylitol at 1.56%, while all bacteria showed statistically
significant inhibition at levels above 1.56%. The study
concluded that xylitol exhibited anticariogenic effects
by inhibiting the growth of S. mutans while not
affecting other streptococci as part of the normal oral
flora