Effects of Candies on Salivary Secretion and Oral Bacterial Counts

Purpose: Gum chewing is encouraged to alleviate symptoms of xerostomia, but few studies have been conducted with candy. We aimed to clarify the effects of sucking candies on salivary secretion and oral bacterial counts to improve the oral environment of patients with xerostomia. Methods: The participants’ unstimulated salivary flow rate, pH, and oral bacterial counts were measured. A candy (candy stimulus 1) was then placed in the mouth, and the time for complete dissolution, the total amount of saliva secreted, and the number of oral bacteria after dissolution were measured. A second candy (candy stimulus 2) was then placed in the mouth, and the same measurements were performed. Xylicrystal Milk Mint Candies (non-sugar, Kasugai Confectionery Co., LTD) were used. Fifteen healthy adult participants were asked not to brush their teeth before bedtime on the day before the experiment. Results: The mean unstimulated salivary flow rate was (0.39 ± 0.29) mL/min, and the mean salivary pH was 6.96 ± 0.21. Dissolution times for candy stimuli 1 and 2 were (358 ± 62) s and (359 ± 57) s, respectively. A negative correlation (p Conclusion: Sucking candy increased the unstimulated salivary flow rate by approximately 7.8 times and significantly reduced the number of bacteria on the dorsum of the tongue.