30 research outputs found
Acidogenic Potential of āSugar-Freeā Cough Drops
A patient presented with extensive marginal ditching around restorations recently placed during whole-mouth rehabilitation. The patient was not xerostomic and was otherwise normal except for the self-reported excessive use of āsugar-freeā cough drops sweetened with sorbitol and IsomaltĀ® (an equimolar mix of glucosyl-mannitol and glucosylsorbitol). This prompted an in vitro investigation to determine whether Streptococcus sobrinus 6715, a cariogenic streptococcus, could grow and produce acid in growth medium containing an aqueous extract of such āsugar-freeā cough drops. The results indicate that S. sobrinus 6715 uses IsomaltĀ® and sorbitol extensively, producing terminal culture pH as low as 4.2 when grown on medium with cough drop extract containing these sugars. This pH is sufficient to demineralize dental enamel. Patients should be cautioned against the chronic overuse of āsugar-freeā cough drops and other āsugar-freeā confections sweetened with a mixture of IsomaltĀ® and sorbitol