Objective: Phosphoryl-oligosaccharide calcium (POs-Ca) was found to be prepared from potato starch hydrolysates, and to stabilize calcium solubility at neutral pH (Kamasaka H. et al., 1995). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a sugar-free chewing gum (tablet type) containing POs-Ca on remineralization of lesions in bovine enamel and dentin in situ. Methods: Twelve healthy volunteers (6 males and 6 females; mean age = 21 y old) participated in an intraoral study with a double-blind and cross-over design. Each participant wore a removable palatal appliance containing both of demineralized bovine enamel and dentin specimens and chewed xylitol plus 2.45% POs-Ca gum or a xylitol gum (control) 4 times a day for 2 weeks. The mineral distributions of the specimens were quantified by microradiography for values of the lesion depth (ld, m m) and mineral loss (dZ, vol%.m m) . Results: The mineral values of enamel (ld = 75±13 m m, dZ = 2,531±573 vol%.m m) and dentin (ld = 78±22 m m, dZ = 1,860±523 vol%.m m) of the POs-Ca group were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared with the enamel (ld = 116±37 m m , dZ = 3,776±1,573 vol%.m m) and dentin samples (ld = 101±16 m m , dZ = 2,290±263 vol%.m m) in the control group. The proposed mechanism of enhanced mineral accumulation is that chewing of the POs-Ca gum contributes to increase the salivary pH level, contents of soluble calcium and phosphate and Ca/P ratio. Conclusions: In conclusion, it was suggested that the xylitol gum containing 2.45% POs-Ca remarkably stimulates remineralization in enamel as well as in dentin.

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