title: Caries experience in 15-year-old school children in Bangalore with inherited taste sensitivity levels to 6-n-propylthiouracil: an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between sugar consumption and caries has been researched extensively for many years. The individual drive for the consumption of sweet food is controlled by a variety of biologic, psychologic, and sociologic factors. Sweet preference has been linked to bitter taste sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil, a heritable trait. The present study investigates the association between inherited taste sensitivity to 6-n-popylthiouracil and dental caries experience in 15-year-old school children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred 15-year-old school children from randomly selected schools in Bangalore, India, participated in the study. Data were collected regarding demographic factors and socioeconomic status by personal interviews with the children. Sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil was determined using Tepper filter paper method, and the responses were recorded on the labeled magnitude scale. Each child was examined thoroughly for oral hygiene status and caries experience. Appropriate statistical tests, such as chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test, and Kruskal-Wallis test, were used to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-tasters were significantly associated with caries experience (P < 0.001). The decayed component in non-tasters (3.43 ± 2.18) was statistically significant when compared to tasters (2.86 ± 1.58 medium tasters, 1.50 ± 0.55 supertasters).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After all associated factors were controlled, 6-n-propylthiouracil taste status was the only independent variable significantly related to overall caries experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, The Oxford Dental College, Hospital and Research Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Jaddu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jyothirmai
authors.forename: Sampathkumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naganandini
authors.forename: Shankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aradhya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012923:Social Class; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*; D013652:Taste Threshold / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011441:Propylthiouracil
keywords: 6-n-propylthiouracil; child; dental caries; genetic; taste perception