Abstract:
Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of red propolis and xylitol chewable tablets in reducing concentrations of micro-organisms such as Streptococcus mutans (SM) and gram-negative bacteria (GNB). Methods: A total of 12 volunteers of both sexes presenting no caries (ICDAS II 0), users of fixed orthodontic appliances and with visible plaque index were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Was to determine the variations in the concentrations of SM and GNB in the saliva before and after the administration of the chewable tablets. The appearance of adverse reactions and side effects was analyzed. The Mann-Whitney (parametric) test was used for pairwise comparisons of means. The Wilxocon test was also used. Results: The study revealed that the propolis and xylitol chewable tablets had antimicrobial activity, reducing the concentration of GNB by -1.39 log10 CFU/mL (p = 0.036) and compared to placebo (p = 0.004698). There was a significant reduction of SM of -0.22 log10 CFU/mL (p = 0.031) and compared to placebo (p = 0.002165). Conclusion: Thus, in addition to the good safety profile, with a low rate of adverse effects, red propolis and xylitol tablets proved to be an effective potential low-cost alternative to combat dental caries and other periodontal diseases.
Key words: Propolis, Xylitol, Chewable tablets, Streptococcus mutans, Dental decay.
