title: The role of medications in dental caries formation: need for sugar-free medication for children.
abstract: Most paediatric medicines are prescribed in a liquid form that includes sugar in the formulation. Accumulating evidence, on a clinical and experimental basis, shows a significant association between the intake of sucrose-based medication and an increased incidence of dental caries. Many of the children on long-term medication for chronic medical problems are particularly at risk from the consequences of developing dental caries; dental disease, sepsis or treatment procedures can put the general health or even life of the child at risk. The need to use sucrose in medications should be reassessed; medicines containing sugar should be labelled accordingly; and medical and dental professionals should be aware of potential problems related to sucrose-based medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's Dentistry, University of Birmingham Dental School, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Glenwright
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005079:Excipients / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics; D013395:Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D005079:Excipients; D013395:Sucrose