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WHO may revise guideline on sugar to combat tooth decay

BMJ 2014; 348 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g21 (Published 06 January 2014) Cite this as: BMJ 2014;348:g21

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Re: WHO may revise guideline on sugar to combat tooth decay

Very often people eat chocolates and drink sugar based drinks. The chocolate is held in the mouth for longer duration. After eating chocolates and drinking sugar based drinks, people do not drink water to clear the sugar from the oral cavity. An individual should keep food and liquid in the mouth for as short duration as possible(1). This should be followed by use of milk and dairy products to reduce the incidence of dental carries (2). Just swishing with water after consumption of chocolate and sugar based drinks will be also helpful in clearance of sugar from the oral cavity (3).

References:
1.1. Dawes C. Salivary flow patterns and the health of hard and soft oral tissues. J Am Dent Assoc. 2008 May;139 Suppl:18S-24S.

2. Naval s,Koerber A,Salzmann L,Punwani I,Johnson BR,Wu CD The effects of beverages on plaque acidogenicity after a sugary challenge.The Journal of the American Dental Association, 2013(July);144: 815-822.

3.Math MV, Balasubramaniam P, Water swishing. Br Dent J 2009;207:304

Competing interests: No competing interests

15 January 2014
Mahantayya V Math
Associate Professor
Dr Yashoda R Kattimani
MGM Medical College, Kamothe, Navi Mumbai
Department of Physiology,MGM Medical College, Kamothe, Navi Mumbai , Maharahtra State, India