The Role of Oxalates in Rat Dental Caries

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Abstract
165 weanling white rat litter mates were divided into 5 major groups. Each of these groups was further divided into 3 subgroups. Subgroup A in each of the major groups acted as controls and in groups 1, 2 and 3 received a coarse corn caries-producing diet. In groups 4 and 5, subgroup A received Purina lab chow and distilled drinking water for 10 days, after which they were placed on the coarse corn caries-producing diet. In group 1, subgroup B received 0.02% and subgroup C, 0.11% Na oxalate in the caries diet. The caries diet of subgroup B, group 2, contained 0.06%, and subgroup C, 0.33% Na oxalate. Rats of group 3 in subgroup B received a caries diet containing 1.6% and in subgroup C, 8.0% dehydrated spinach. Subgroups B and C of groups 4 and 5 received Purina lab chow and distilled drinking water containing 0.02% and 0.22% K oxalate in group 4 and 0.0002% and 0.002% K oxalate in group 5, 10 days prior to being placed on the caries-producing diet. The oxalate drinking water was continued through the entire exptl. period. All groups remained on the caries dietary for 100 days. Added dietary oxalates were found to produce no significant effect on caries incidence or extent. Although considerable calculus-like deposits occurred within the grooves of the exptl. rats'' molars (ofttimes immediately under the deposit), the occurrence of caries was not affected in these susceptible areas. No significant difference could be found in the dental caries incidence or extent in the 5 control groups of rodents receiving the same caries-producing diet.