The Impact of Dietary Sugars on Dental Caries: A Comprehensive Report

This report explores the significant role of dietary sugars in the development of dental caries, a prevalent multifactorial disease. It begins by highlighting the contribution of dietary sugars to the formation of dental plaque, which attracts bacteria like Streptococcus, Actinomyces, and Lactobacillus. These bacteria metabolize sugars, producing corrosive acids that erode tooth enamel, leading to cavities and potentially affecting internal tooth structures, gums, and nerve tissues. The report emphasizes the transmissible nature of dental caries and underscores the importance of understanding the disease's etiology in relation to dietary sugar consumption. References to key research papers support the discussion of dental caries and the impact of dietary sugars.

Running head: THE ROLE OF DIETARY SUGARS IN DENTAL CARIES 1
The Role of Dietary Sugars in Dental Carries
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THE ROLE OF DIETARY SUGARS IN DENTAL CARIES 2
The Role of Dietary Sugars in Dental Carries
Dietary sugars are the leading cause of dental caries in most of the people. The
consumption diets with too many sugars are contributed by cultural, social, behavioral and
environmental and biological factors (Gupta et al, 2013). Dental caries is one of the diseases
that affect most of the people in the world. It is called a multifactorial disease because the
mechanical process that leads to the disease involves various components, for example,
microorganisms in the oral cavity, carbohydrates, acids, and fluoride compounds The
properties of different types of teeth may also contribute to the occurrence of dental carries.
Molars and premolars are susceptible to dental carries as compared to canines and incisors.
Most of the diet consumed by a large population of people contain a lot of sugars. The
mechanism of tooth decay and destruction involves a series or a circle of stages (Grütter &
Vailati, 2013). The deposition and accumulation of sugars on the enamel surfaces leads to the
formation of a dental plaque. The plaque attracts microbial organisms especially bacteria that
feed on the sugars. The microflora found in the oral cavity fastens the rate to tooth decay. The
bacteria include Streptococcus, Actinomyces and Lactobacillus. These bacteria produce acids
after utilizing the sugars on the surface of the teeth. The produced acids are corrosive,
therefore, destroying the enamel. The destruction of the enamel leads to alteration of the
entire structure of the teeth (Sheiham & James, 2015).
The continuous damage on the enamel leads to the formation of an opening, thus allowing
the bacteria to get access to internal tissues of the tooth. The acids produced by the bacteria
alter the typical structure of gum, therefore, making them loose. Loose gums allow the
microbial organism to get access into the roots of the teeth. The action of the bacteria on the
soft tissue, blood vessels, and nerve tissues leads to severe inflammation. The inflammation
on the gums is typified by reddening, tenderness, and swelling (Kanski & Bowling, 2011).

THE ROLE OF DIETARY SUGARS IN DENTAL CARIES 3
Since the disease is multifactorial, it can be transmitted from one person to another. The
transmissible nature of dental carries is pivotal in determining the cause of the disease
concerning the contributions of dietary sugars.

THE ROLE OF DIETARY SUGARS IN DENTAL CARIES 4
References
Gupta, P., Gupta, N., Pawar, A. P., Birajdar, S. S., Natt, A. S., & Singh, H. P. (2013). Role of
sugar and sugar substitutes in dental caries: a review. ISRN dentistry
Grütter, L., & Vailati, F. (2013). Full-mouth adhesive rehabilitation in case of severe dental
erosion, a minimally invasive approach following the 3-step technique. Eur J Esthet
Dent, 8(3), 358-75.
Kanski, J. J., & Bowling, B. (2011). Clinical ophthalmology: a systematic approach. Elsevier
Health Sciences.
Sheiham, A., & James, W. P. T. (2015). Diet and dental caries: the pivotal role of free sugars
reemphasized. Journal of dental research, 94(10), 1341-1347.