Total sucrose intake and dental caries in black and white South African children of 1-6 years. Part II: dental caries and sucrose intake.

Investigation has been made of the relationship between daily sucrose intake and dental health in 687 Black and 467 White South African children of I 6 years. Sucrose intakes were assessed using a questionnaire, and teeth were examined for decayed, missing and filled teeth, using mir­ ror and probe. Principalfindings were: (i) prevalence of car­ ies, rampant caries (5+ carious teeth j and labial caries (le­ sion/s on labial surface of one or more incisor or canine teeth) were not associated with mean level of sucrose in­ take in every group studied; (ii) sucrose intake was low yet labial caries prevalence high in rural Black children; (Hi) an equal labial caries prevalence was found in White and in rural Black children and this was associated with far high­ er sucrose intakes: and (iv) although sucrose intakes were higher in urban than in rural Black children (with the ex­ ception of high sucrose eaters who had greater intakes in rural than in urban areas), urban dwellers had a very low prevalence of labial caries. Clearly, the causes of caries, rampant caries, and more particularly labial caries in the deciduous dentition, urgently needed elucidation. OPSOMMING