The effect of xylitol and sorbitol chewing gums on dental caries levels among 5-year old kindergarteners was investigated. Three kindergartens the operations of which were partly subsidized by municipal government of Daegu city, Korea, were chosen as the study sites. The child base of the kindergartens were considered demographically and ethnically similar, representing middle-income families. The subjects were examined at their own kindergarten by the two dentists. Participation in the program was voluntary. Over 12 months, 123 participants chewed xylitol chewing gums(X group; 42 subjects), sorbitol chewing gum(S group; 42 subjects), or did not receive chewing gum as a control group(C group; 39 subjects). Consumption of xylitol and sorbitol was 4.5 to 5.0 g/day/subject, consumed in five daily chewing episodes of 5 min. Oral examination, Dentocult-SM test and interproximal dental plaque collection were completed at baseline and 12 months later. The dmfs of group C increased 59.2%, but group S increased 33.4% and group X increased only 31.3% during 12 months study period. The caries prevention ratio was 47.1% at group X and 43.6% at group S. There also appeared the reduction of caries activity at group X(1.39), group S(1.50) than control group(1.79). Compared with groups S and C, there was a statistically significant reduction of S. mutans in interproximal plaque in group X. The results suggest that xylitol chewing gum can prevent dental caries of deciduous dentition, and may be a little more effective than a sorbitol-containing product in controlling some caries-associated parameters in kindergarten-age subjects.