[Sugar substitutes--their significance in preventing dental caries].

Sugar is the most prominent antagonist of teeth. In the Federal Republic of Germany, approx. 2 million tons of sugar were sold for human nutrition in 1986/87. The per capita consumption was 34.8 kg. The significance of sugar substitutes can be derived from the possibility to make some particularly caries-causing confectionery types tolerable for the teeth: On the one hand, they will thus lose their caries triggering property; on the other hand, they contribute to the remineralization of carious initial lesions by stimulating the saliva. Teeth-tolerable confectionery can be specially marked. Measures and media for familiarising the public with this special "brand" are shown.