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Ruottinen S, Karjalainen S et al. Caries Res 2004; 38: 142–148

Dental health in some countries has improved without a decrease in total sucrose consumption, and the latter is not very strongly associated with caries (perhaps because frequency of intake is crucial). These researchers investigated caries in children aged 8-11 yrs in a Finnish coronary risk factor study in which dietary records were made. Two groups were selected, each of 33 children, with the highest (H) and lowest (L) 5 percentiles of sucrose intake.

By 2 yrs of age, the daily sucrose intake of the H group was 30 g/dy, and of the L group, 14 g/dy, rising respectively to 53 g and 33 g at age 10 yrs. Most of the difference was accounted for by sweetened dairy products, drinks and juices, and sweets and chocolate. Toothbrushing habits had no effect on dental health.

Mean DMFT was significantly higher in the H group than the L group (1.4 v. 0.5) but not dmft (2.7 v. 1.1), perhaps due to small numbers; the difference was significant for combined DMFT and dmft. There was little effect of socioeconomic factors.