Dental caries and diet in an Alaskan Eskimo population

Abstract

– The diet and the prevalence of dental caries in a group of Alaskan inland Eskimos have been studied on two occasions. Considerable changes in living habits had occurred during the 8–10 intervening years. A marked change in diet was noted. The percentage of total calories obtained from protein had decreased by about 50 % and that from carbohydrate increased by nearly 50 %. The change in diet was accompanied by a drastic increase in the prevalence of dental caries. The DMFT rate for primary teeth showed an almost 90 % increase and the DMFT rate for permanent teeth of persons over 6 years of age exhibited a four‐fold increase. The most dramatic change was observed in individuals 30 years of age or older. In this previously caries‐free group, all subjects had developed caries in the course of 8 years.

Effect of Cariogenic Food Exposure on Prevalence of Dental Caries among Fee and non-fee Paying School Children, Udaipur, India

“…A rapid increase in caries probably is because of change to modern diet and dietary habits dominated by imported industrial sugar containing products. A similar trend has also been reported from Canada 13 , Alaska 14 and Asian countries 1 . Toverud's documentati on 15 of the decrease in caries increment in Norwegian school children during World War II emphasizes the close associati on between intake of refi ned carbohydrates and occurrence of caries.…”

Diet, nutrition and the prevention of dental diseases

“…As economic levels in such societies rise, the amount of sugar and other fermentable carbohydrates in the diet increases as they shift towards habits and diets associated with modern living. Examples of this trend include populations in the Inuit in Alaska, USA 63 as well as populations in Ethiopia There is evidence to show that many groups of people with habitually high consumption of sugars also have levels of caries higher than the population average, for example, children with chronic diseases requiring longterm sugar-containing medicines 69 . Environmental exposure to high sugars has also been studied: Anaise 70 found that confectionery industry workers had 71% higher dental caries experience than factory workers from other industries.…”

Good Oral Health and Diet

“…The demineralization of the enamel and of the dentine is caused by organic acids that form in the dental plaque because of bacterial activity, through the anaerobic metabolism of sugars found in the diet [7]. …”

“…Very low levels of dental caries are found in isolated communities with a traditional lifestyle and low consumption of sugars [7–9]. As soon as economic conditions improve and the quantity of sugars and other fermentable carbohydrates increases in the diet, a notable increase in dental caries is noticed.…”

“…As soon as economic conditions improve and the quantity of sugars and other fermentable carbohydrates increases in the diet, a notable increase in dental caries is noticed. This has been seen in the Inuit of Alaska and in populations in Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, and the islands of Tristan da Cunha and Sant'Elena [7–9]. …”