Sugar intake and dental caries: where do we stand?

Toward a reduction in the prevalence of diet-related diseases, including dental caries, recent recommendations have included a decrease in intake and frequency of consumption of sugar and sugar-containing foods. Although some have expressed doubts over the closeness of a cause-effect relationship, the overriding culpability of sugar continues to be asserted. In this contribution, from an examination of evidence, it is concluded that the link between sugar and caries is less strong than currently believed, and that the frequent contention that a decrease in sugar intake will evoke a meaningful fall in caries frequency cannot be sustained from available information.