The Physical Consistency of Food and Refined Carbohydrate Restrictions—Their Effect on Caries

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Abstract
This paper is essentially a summary of a clinical investigation which was conducted at the University of California during the last 10 yrs. to test on a broad basis the prevailing concept that a reduction of caries activity can be accomplished by reducing an excessive refined carbohydrate intake and thereby decreasing the number of lacto-bacilli in the oral cavity. These studies were in no way aimed at a search for the etiology of dental caries. The findings indicate that the fundamental work of Bunting, Jay and co-workers could be confirmed with the following conclusions: (1) The reduction of the Lactobacillus acidophilus index can be obtained within a period of a few wks. by reducing the excessive refined carbohydrates intake and by replacing the calories derived from these foods by increasing the intake of milk and milk products, meat, eggs and vegetables.(2) The high degree of success establishes the reduction of refined carbohydrates at least as one effective means of reducing the oral Lactobacillus acidophilus index. (3) In a group of 665 co-operative patients with rampant dental caries, the reduction or elimination of oral lactobacilli was accompanied by a decrease in caries incidence in 88.4% or 588 individuals. (4) A program of dental caries control or prevention is entirely practical and effective in private practice, institutional and public health work.

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