Socioeconomic factors associated with xylitol use as a behavior related to oral health: a literature review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Identify in literature the influence of socioeconomic factors in the access to xylitol and find the effects of this sugar with regards dental caries; verify its potential as a behavior related to oral health. Searches were conducted in database Pubmed, between March and June in 2023, with MeSH terms “Epidemiology” and “Socioeconomic Factors” articulated with each other by means of boolean operator “OR”. These terms were articulated with the MeSH term “Xylitol” through boolean operator “AND”. Filters weren’t applied. 86 results were evaluated on this narrative review of which 14 were included after steps of selection. The xylitol benefit effects to control of dental caries were reported in so many studies, through mechanisms such as the salivary stimulation and reduction of Streptococcus mutans levels. The xylitol access is limited to the socioeconomically advantaged people, specially to its high cost. The chewing gum was the main way to use xylitol in popularization strategies of this product. Xylitol access facilitation in an economic view is basal to this product will not act as an aggravating of oral health iniquities. Xylitol must be a tool able to reduce dental caries problems and the health system overload.

Keywords

• Xylitol
• Oral health
• Socioeconomic factors