Abstract
The sugars most responsible for dental caries are free sugars. They are mono- and disaccharides added to foods and beverages by the manufacturer, cook or consumer and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates. For both general and oral health, the WHO recommends that the free sugar contribution to an individual’s total energy intake should be no more than 10% and suggests a further reduction to below 5% to protect oral health throughout the life course. Dietary advice should focus on reducing the amount of free sugars consumed; encourage the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and wholegrain starch-rich foods; and discourage the consumption of all drinks containing free sugars.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Moynihan PJ, Kelly SAM. Effect on caries of restricting sugars intake, 2014. J Dent Res. 2014;93(1):8–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034513508954.
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). Carbohydrates and health. London: TSO; 2015. ISBN: 9780117082847. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-carbohydrates-and-health-report
WHO. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children. Geneva: WHO; 2015. http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/guidelines/sugars_intake/en/
Peres KG, et al. Breastfeeding oral health: evidence and methodological challenges. J Dent Res. 2018;97(3):251–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034517738925.
Chankanka O, et al. Mixed dentition cavitated caries incidence and dietary intake frequencies. Pediatr Dent. 2011;33(3):233–40.
Maguire A, Rugg-Gunn AJ. Xylitol and caries prevention—is it a magic bullet? Br Dent J. 2003;194:429–38. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4810022.
Baghlaf K, et al. Free sugars consultation around bedtime and dental caries in children: a systematic review. JDR Clin Trans Res. 2017;3(2) https://doi.org/10.1177/2380084417749215.
Moynihan P, Makino Y, Petersen PE, Ogawa H. Implications of WHO guideline on sugars for dental health professionals. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2018;46:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12353.
Moynihan PJ. Sugars and dental caries: evidence for setting a recommended threshold for intake. Adv Nutr. 2016;7:149–56. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.115.009365.
WHO. Diet and oral disease. Geneva: WHO. http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/oral-health.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Levine, R., Stillman-Lowe, C. (2019). Diet and Oral Health. In: The Scientific Basis of Oral Health Education. BDJ Clinician’s Guides. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98207-6_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98207-6_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-98206-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-98207-6
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)