Cariogenicity of Foods an Epidemiological Approach (Dental, Sugar, Soft Drinks, Adhesiveness, Desserts Snacks).

The purpose of this epidemiologic study was to determine the probability (the "odds ratio") of high DMFT scores being associated with reported consumption of selected food groups. In addition to estimating the odds ratios, a logistic regression model was used to account for differences between those with low and high DMFT scores in age, gender, race, education, income, concentration of fluoride in the outer enamel surface, the F/DMFT ratio, and the consumption of sugary foods other than those under study. The impact of non-consumption of foods associated with increased prevalence of dental caries was determined using the attributable risk analysis. The sample (n = 3,194) consisted of persons aged nine to 29 years who participated in the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics from 1971 through 1974, and who were categorized by low or high DMFT scores. High DMFT scores were defined as those scores at or above the 80th percentile of the DMFT distribution, while low DMFT scores were those at or below the 20th percentile at each age. The dietary data were abstracted from the 24-hour dietary record of the sampled individuals. Food groups were determined based upon similarity of food types, e.g. soft drinks, breakfast cereals. Strength of conclusions is restrained because DMF scores are a lifetime record of caries activity, whereas the 24-hour dietary recall records the latest dietary habits. Results of the study revealed that the between-meal consumption of table sugars and syrups and crackers, and the at- and between-meal consumption of sweetened soft drinks and sugary desserts and snacks is associated with higher probability of having high caries scores, while the consumption of bread, sweetened and unsweetened fruit juices, ice cream, and artificially sweetened beverages is not. The amount of breakfast cereals consumed at meals was significantly associated with high DMFT scores in the regression model. However, when the possibility of the concurrent consumption of table sugars and syrups was accounted for, the amount of breakfast cereals consumed did not remain a significant risk factor. The reported amount and frequency of between-meal consumption of coffee, chocolate, and tea drinks were also associated with high DMFT scores; however, the apparent associations were not found when the differences between the high and low DMFT groups in the potential confounders (including the consumption of other sugary foods) were accounted for. The attributable risk analysis revealed that if those with high DMFT scores did abstain from consuming from the food groups identified as cariogenic (sweetened soft drinks, table sugars and syrups, sugary desserts and snacks and crackers), then 30.0 percent of them could have low DMFT scores. In conclusion, the probability of high DMFT experience was most strongly associated with reported consumption of sweetened soft drinks, table sugars and syrups, sugary desserts and snacks, and crackers. No consistent association was found between high DMFT scores and the consumption of breakfast cereals, coffee, chocolate and tea drinks, ice cream, sweetened and unsweetened fruit juices, artificially sweetened beverages, and bread.PhDDentistryUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/160243/1/8501408.pd