Fermentable carbohydrate dietary consumption measured by a cariogenicity scoring system and caries experience in youth and adults

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate if dietary fermentable carbohydrate consumption associates with caries experience of youths and adults when assessed by a scoring system of putative cariogenicity of the foods. Methods: Two hundred and seventy five subjects (12 to 67 years-old) were examined to assess caries experience by the DMFT Index (decay, missing and filled teeth) and radiographs. Subjects filled a weekly diet diary registering the type, frequency and time of consumption of foods. An arbitrary scoring system was used to determine cariogenic potential of the diet based on food consistency, frequency and occasion of consumption. Results: DMFT index significantly increased with age (p<0.001). Females showed higher cariogenic potential than males (p=0.04). When subjects were divided into four DMFT categories, no differences were detected in cariogenic potential of the diet in any caries group. No correlation between caries experience and cariogenic potential of the diet could be found. Conclusions: Arbitrarily assigned cariogenicity of dietary fermentable carbohydrates does not seem to associate with caries experience, when information was obtained through a cariogenicity scoring system.