Sugar substitutes – one consequence of the Vipeholm Study?

Abstract

One of the main conclusions from the Vipeholm Study is that consumption of sticky sugar-containing between meal products can be associated with high caries activity. Another important result from this study is that there is a great variation in the caries development between different individuals, for example among those who consume 24 toffees a day. Thus, the answer to the question that was raised in the title of this paper: "Sugar substitutes - one consequence of the Vipeholm Study?" is "Yes" for those products that are consumed frequently and "Yes" for those individuals who have a high risk for dental caries, but "No" for those products that are not consumed frequently and "No" for those individuals who do not have a high risk for dental caries. There are many substitutes available on the market today, both non caloric and caloric, which have a low or even no cariogenic potential. Even if some of these products have economic, technologic and toxicologic shortcomings, sugar substitution is an important part of the caries prevention.