Dental caries is a multifactorial biofilm disease and frequent sucrose consumption increases its’ risk. Xylitol, a five-carbon polyol sweetener,
has advantageous effects on dental health. First by replacing sucrose and increasing salivary flow, but also by specifically antagonizing the growth of Streptococcus mutans and decreasing the amount of plaque. Here, an in vitro caries simulator model was used to evaluate the effect of sucrose and xylitol on adherence to hydroxyapatite (HA) by three S. mutans strains and one Streptococcus sobrinus strain, and their quantities in artificial saliva (AS).