Potential cariogenicity of low and high sucrose dietary patterns.
In vivo daytime plaque pH telemetry during 2 week periods was combined with measurement of changes in enamel microhardness and analysis of microbial plaque composition in 2 human subjects. Well defined sucrose rich and sucrose poor diets were used as variables. During the 2 weeks of the high sucrose diet (50-80 g/day), a high cariogenic acid attack calculated from pH changes in "Proton hours" was associated with a marked progressive decrease in enamel microhardness. The low sucrose diet (2-6 g/day) showed a low "Proton hour" acid attack during the entire 2 weeks. The decrease in enamel microhardness, however, was low only during the first week. After day 7 a marked decrease could be observed. It could not be explained by the glycolytic activity of the plaque, which was low. Streptococcus mutans was present in all microbial samples.
D000368:Aged; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000503:physiopathology; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013395:Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D013395:Sucrose