Per capita consumption of sugar‐containing products and dental caries in Sweden from 1960 to 1985

Abstract

The aim of the present report was to analyze sugar consumption in relation to dental caries in Sweden from 1960 to 1985. Sugar consumption is based on official statistics from the National Swedish Agricultural Board and is expressed in grams per person and day. Over this quarter-century total sugar consumption decreased approximately 5%, from 116 to 110 g/person/day. A shift occurred from direct consumption to indirect (sugar used by the food industry), the former decreasing from 76 to 50 and the latter rising from 40 to 60 g/person/day. Available epidemiologic data on dental caries in children from the National Swedish Board of Health and Welfare indicate that the frequency of caries decreased dramatically from 1960 to 1985, though comparable data were difficult to obtain for the whole 25-yr period. The conclusion from this study is that these changes in caries prevalence in Sweden cannot be attributed to a corresponding decrease in the per capita consumption of sugar and sugar-containing products. On the contrary, the intake of some products traditionally related to dental caries, such as candy and soft drinks, increased during 1960-1985.

Changes in the Prevalence of Dental Caries: How Much Can Be Attributed to Changes in Diet?

“…Ericsson [1987] continues stating 'however, it appears that the propaganda against sweets can hardly be given credit for the great caries reduction since the per capita consumption of sweets and soft drinks has in creased considerably during the last decades (figure 6)'. Detailed data presented by Birkhed et al [1989] at the 'Inaugural Conference for a European Consensus Conference on Diet, Nutrition and Dental Caries' in Angers (France) in 1988 corroborated this view. At that conference, Holm and Birkhed pointed to three pieces of evidence:…”

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