Let's talk about sugar

By Theresa Pablos, DrBicuspid.com assistant editor

September 24, 2015 -- Several scholars from the International and American Association for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) are calling for a re-emphasis on free sugars as the main cause for caries. The authors of two recent papers criticize both the thought that caries is a "multifactorial condition" and the lack of sugar-related policies.

The first article, "Diet and Dental Caries: The Pivotal Role of Free Sugars Reemphasized," reviews various clinical studies and argues that free sugars are the primary factor in the development of caries. The second, "The Confluence of Sugar, Dental Caries, and Health Policy," examines how current health policies do not reflect the latest scientific research and questions what can be done to change that. Both papers were first published online in the Journal of Dental Research on August 10, 2015, and will appear in the October 2015 print issue.

"The importance of sugars as a cause of caries is underemphasized and not prominent in preventive strategies," wrote the authors of the "Diet and Dental Caries" article. "This is despite overwhelming evidence of its unique role in causing a worldwide caries epidemic."

Not multifactorial

Aubrey Sheiham, BDS, PhD, lead author of "Diet and Dental Caries: The Pivotal Role of Free Sugars Reemphasized."

Aubrey Sheiham, BDS, PhD, and his co-author argued that free sugars are the primary determinant for caries, while other factors merely alter the effects. Dr. Sheiham is an emeritus professor of epidemiology and public health at the University College London....