Current issues concerning the relationship between diet and dental caries.

Diet can affect teeth both during their formation (pre-eruptively) and locally in the mouth (post-eruptively). Several dietary factors have been considered to act pre-eruptively, affecting the caries-susceptibility of the forming tooth, but only fluoride has been shown to have any distinct effect. The post-eruptive influence of diet is very much more important than any pre-eruptive effect, and sugar is by far the most cariogenic dietary item. The aim should be to reduce the frequency of consumption and the amount of sugar consumed. Important sources of added sugars are confectionery, table sugar and soft drinks. Starchy foods and fresh fruit as eaten by man cause little caries. Non-sugar sweeteners are non-cariogenic and useful substitutes for sugars in many foods and drinks.