Dental caries is a pandemic infectious disease which can affect quality of life and consume considerable health care resources. The study found that the four xylitol gums were most effective in reducing caries rates and suggested that systematic usage of polyol-based chewing gums reduces caries rates in young subjects, with xylitol gums being more effective than sorbitol gums.

Mäkinen, K. K., Bennett, C. A., Hujoel, P. P., Isokangas, P. J., Isotupa, K. P., Pape, H. R., & Mäkinen, P. L. (1995). Xylitol chewing gums and caries rates: a 40-month cohort study. Journal of Dental Research, 74(12), 1904–1913.