Sugar Nutrition UK Opinion Piece in British Dental Journal – Sugar: Demonisation of a product or fair culprit?

Sugar is undoubtedly in the spotlight. Over the last 18 months, we’ve seen numerous headlines linking sugar with all manner of ills from obesity to cancer; with claims of sugar even being ‘poisonous’. But is there robust science behind the media hyperbole? And what does this mean for dental health? More “Sugar Nutrition UK Opinion Piece in British Dental Journal – Sugar: Demonisation of a product or fair culprit?” >

High Sucrose Intake at 3 Years of Age is Associated with Increased Salivary Counts of Mutans Streptococci and Lactobacilli, and with Increased Caries Rate from 3 to 16 Years of Age

Karjalainen,S., Tolvanen,M., Pienihakkinen,K., Soderling,E., Lagstrom,H. and Simell,O.N., H., (2015) Caries Research 49:125-132 DOI: 10.1159/000369358

OBJECTIVE: Longitudinal study of salivary levels of the aciduric flora and dental health in response to sucrose intake in young children, to test the hypothesis that high sucrose intake at 3 years increases the aciduric flora with negative long-term effects on dental health. More “High Sucrose Intake at 3 Years of Age is Associated with Increased Salivary Counts of Mutans Streptococci and Lactobacilli, and with Increased Caries Rate from 3 to 16 Years of Age” >

Plaque pH in Caries-Free and Caries-Active Young Individuals before and after Frequent Rinses with Sucrose and Urea Solution

Hassan,H., Lingstrom,P. and Carlen,A., (2014) Caries Res. 49:18-25 000360798

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of the dental biofilm to form acid and alkali after short-term adaptation periods with daily exposure to sucrose and urea in relation to caries. Effects on stimulated saliva secretion rate and buffer capacity as well as acid-tolerant bacteria in saliva and plaque were also investigated.

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Comment regarding Sheiham and James paper in BMC Public Health on sugar and dental caries

This is a paper using existing data, and includes the use of evidence that the World Health Organisation deemed to be of ‘very low’ quality. These historical studies use supply data of potential sugar availability and attempt to link this to incidence of dental caries. Due to their nature they are unable to show that individuals with the lowest sugar intakes have the least dental decay, or that those with higher intakes have increased amounts of dental decay. More “Comment regarding Sheiham and James paper in BMC Public Health on sugar and dental caries” >

Sugar-sweetened beverages and dental caries in adults: A 4-year prospective study

Bernabe,E., Vehkalahti,M.M., Sheiham,A., Aromaa,A. and Suominen,A.L., (2014) J.Dent. 42:952-958 10.1016/j.jdent.2014.04.011

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between frequency of SSB consumption and caries increment over 4 years in adults, and to explore whether the association between frequency of SSB consumption and caries increment varied by socio-demographic characteristics and use of fluoride toothpaste.

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A new understanding of the relationship between sugars, dental caries and fluoride use: implications for limits on sugars consumption

Sheiham,A. and James,W.P., (2014) Public Health Nutr. 1-9 S136898001400113X [pii]

OBJECTIVE: To examine the quantitative relationship between sugar intake and the progressive development of dental caries (DC).

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Effect on Caries of Restricting Sugars Intake: Systematic Review to Inform WHO Guidelines

Moynihan,P.J. and Kelly,S.A., (2013) J.Dent.Res. 93:8-18

Objective: To update evidence on the association between reducing the amount of sugars intake to <10% and <5% energy (E) on caries to inform updating of WHO guidelines on sugar consumption. The questions formulated by the WHO guideline development group were as follows: What is the effect on dental caries of a reduction in free sugars intake in adults/children?; What is the effect on dental caries of an increase in free sugars intake in adults/children?; and What is the effect on dental caries of restricting sugars intake to below 10% E to reduce risk of dental caries in adults/children?
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Water Fluoridation and the Association of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Dental Caries in Australian Children

Armfield,J.M., Spencer,A.J., Roberts-Thomson,K.F. and Plastow,K., (2013) Am.J.Public Health 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300889

Objective: To examine the association of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) with dental caries in children and whether water fluoridation modifies this association. Also to examine demographic and socioeconomic differences in consumption of SSBs in children.
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