press

Press Releases

Modern lifestyle prevents tooth decay

Print this page

Back

February 2009

New research has found that modern lifestyle habits may play a bigger role than food alone, when it comes to tooth decay.

A review of the scientific evidence over the past 150 years found that the effects of fluoride toothpaste, good oral hygiene and health education, may override the effects of food alone on tooth decay. The research is published online in a Supplement to the journal Obesity Reviews.

Professor Monty Duggal, an author of the review explained ‘Nowadays, it’s not enough to just look at what we eat when talking about tooth decay, as other factors seem to be as important. Fluoride toothpaste changes the effect that some foods have on the teeth, as do other good oral hygiene practices’.

He added ‘Future research should investigate a number of lifestyle factors together with different foods that might affect tooth decay. Times have changed and with that, the foods we eat, and how we care for our teeth’.

 Professor Duggal is a consultant and head of paediatric dentistry at Leeds dental institute. He has published over 65 research papers in international scientific journals.

The overall aim of the review was to look at the evidence for the claim that sugar was the main cause of dental caries (tooth decay). The authors concluded that out of 31 studies carefully reviewed, the majority did not find a relationship between the amount of sugar consumed and dental caries, but the frequency of consumption may be important.

Thanks to dental health education most people now know the best way to prevent tooth decay is to brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, especially before going to bed. Rates of tooth decay have fallen dramatically over the past 20 years.

 Ends

 

For further information on the study contact
Professor Monty Duggal, Child Dental Health, Leeds Dental Institute, Leeds LS2 9LU, U.K.
Tel: +44 (0)113 343 6177/6138
m.s.duggal@leeds.ac.uk

Information may also be obtained from
Dr. Mary Harrington, Nutrition Communications Manager, The Sugar Bureau mary@sugar-bureau.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7395 0381  
Mob: +44 (0)78 7529 2999  

Dr. Alison Boyd, Director, The Sugar Bureau alison@sugar-bureau.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7379 6830

 

Reference
Anderson CA, Curzon MEJ, Van Loveren C, Tatsi C, Duggal MS. Sucrose and dental caries: a review of the evidence. Obesity Reviews (2009) 10 Suppl.1, 41-54
Full text access pg 41 of Supplement http://www.sugar-bureau.co.uk/PDF/ObesityReviewSuppl.pdf

Notes for Editors
The Sugar Bureau is the trade association for the UK sugar industry and promotes knowledge and understanding of the role of sugar in the diet.

Background information

  • Bacteria in the mouth use sugars from the diet and from the breakdown of starch to provide energy. This process produces acid that attacks the tooth surface, removing minerals from the teeth (demineralisation). After a short time, the acid in the mouth is neutralised by saliva. The minerals lost from the teeth can then be replaced (remineralisation).
  • Tooth decay (dental caries) occurs when more minerals are removed from the teeth by bacterial acids than can be replaced from the saliva. This has been found to occur when people eat carbohydrate-containing foods or drinks too frequently.
  • The best way to prevent tooth decay is to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, twice a day, especially before going to bed, as saliva production is much lower during sleep. Dentists also recommend having a dental check-up every six months so that any tooth decay can be spotted early on.

FAQ on sugar and health

Links

  • Cottrell RC (2005) Dental Disease in Encyclopaedia of Human Nutrition, 2nd Edition; p. 527-534. Eds Caballero, Allen & Prentice. Elsevier Academic Press, Oxford
  • König KG (2000) Diet and oral health. International Dental Journal; 50: 162-74 http://www.fdiworldental.org/assets/pdf/commission/97_6_4.pdf
  • van Loveren C and Duggal MS (2001) The role of diet in caries prevention. International Dental Journal 51:399-406

Back to top

  • HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

    Visit this section to find out more about our resources – Nutrition in Practice and Patient Leaflets.

  • FOR SCHOOLS

    Discover the history and geography of sugar, together with how it is produced.

  • SCIENCE CENTRE

    Visit the Science Centre to read the latest research on carbohydrate nutrition.