title: Sugar consumption and caries risk in schoolchildren with low caries experience.
abstract: This paper assesses the risk from sugar consumption in a population of school children with low caries experience. It relates eight different measures of sugar consumption to the occurrence of any DMFS increment, and, separately, to approximal and pit-and-fissure DMFS. The data are from a 3-yr longitudinal study of 429 children, initially aged 11-15, residing in non-fluoridated rural communities in Michigan, USA. All children completed at least three dietary interviews, were present for baseline and final dental examinations, and had a parent or guardian provide questionnaire information on residence history, use of fluoride and dental services, and family history. Results indicated that a higher proportion of total energy intake from sugars increased the probability of caries on all surfaces, and a higher total intake of sugars was also associated with total caries increment. No relationship, however, was found between DMFS increment and the frequency of eating high sugar foods. Each additional 5 g of daily sugars intake was associated with a 1% increase in the probability of developing caries, and those whose energy intake from sugars was 1 SD above the mean had 2.0 times the risk of developing approximal caries than did children whose energy intake from sugars was 1 SD below the mean.
authors.affiliation: Program in Dental Public Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-2029, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Szpunar
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Eklund
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Burt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D003750:Dental Fissures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D004435:Eating; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013395:Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D013395:Sucrose