Xylitol to Prevent Periodontal Disease and Preterm Birth in Pregnancy and Early Childhood
Official title: Xylitol and the Prevention of Periodontal disease and Preterm Birth (XaPPP) Trial
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11478593 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A safe, inexpensive chewable gum approach using xylitol is tested to help pregnant people reduce gum disease and lower the chance of preterm birth and related child health problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $187,566 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD119029-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11478593 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals at risk for periodontal disease, recruited during pregnancy.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant individuals without periodontal disease or those who do not respond to xylitol may see no benefit.
What this research studies
This study tests whether xylitol-containing chewing gum, used during pregnancy, can reduce maternal periodontal disease and lower preterm birth risk. It will be a double-blinded, 3-arm, placebo-controlled trial to address prior study limitations and find the most effective dosing. If successful, this approach could offer a simple, low-cost intervention that improves outcomes for mothers and babies, especially in low-resource settings like parts of Africa.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the trial could provide a simple method to reduce preterm births and improve infant health through better maternal oral health.
How similar studies have gone: A prior cluster-randomized trial in Malawi showed reduced periodontal disease and lower PTB with xylitol chewing gum, but larger, blinded replication is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Valentine, Gregory Charles — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Valentine, Gregory Charles
Related research
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Xylitol for Pregnancy Health and Baby Outcomes
A safe, affordable gum-based treatment using xylitol is being tested to reduce periodontal disease in pregnant people and lower the chance of preterm birth and related child health issues.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.