Sucrose substitutes and their role in caries prevention.
Many non- or low-cariogenic sucrose substitutes are currently available and are found as ingredients of a variety of candy, chewing gum, and drinks. Recently the role of sugar alcohols in promoting remineralisation of enamel has attracted much attention. Thus, the dental profession needs to understand the general characteristics and features of sugar substitutes to provide advice on oral health to patients as well as the general public. There are two critical requirements for sucrose substitutes, namely, being nutritionally appropriate and not being detrimental to the overall general health of the individual. The use of a greater variety of confectionary containing sucrose substitutes and the development of new substitutes with high nutritional value are essential in the battle against caries. In this paper we review in detail the characteristics of sucrose substitutes currently in use, their role in caries prevention and promotion of oral health.
Matsukubo
Takashi
T
Dept. of Epidemiology and Public Health, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan. matukubo@tdc.ac.jp
Takazoe
Ichiro
I
D001218:Aspartame / Q000737:chemistry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007534:Isomaltose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D036625:Stevia / Q000737:chemistry; D013402:Sugar Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010940:Plant Proteins; D013402:Sugar Alcohols; D013549:Sweetening Agents; C002541:monellin protein, Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii; C003427:thaumatin protein, plant; D007534:Isomaltose; C008189:isomaltulose; D001218:Aspartame