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CCC Statement on Recent Article on Sugar-Free Confections and Dental Health

A number of recent reports in the popular press in the U.K. and elsewhere have appeared based on a publication by Nadimi et al., entitled “Are sugar-free confections really beneficial for dental health.”  The authors reviewed studies regarding sugar-free products and dental caries or dental erosion.  The media reports unduly sensationalize the findings of the publication, by stating that sugar-free gum, sweets and soft drinks, marketed as healthy alternatives to sugary products, can damage teeth.

Polyols are safe for consumption and it has been well documented in the literature that they can provide dental benefits.  Scientists and regulators alike recognize that poyols do not cause tooth decay and labeling indicating this health benefit is allowed in the US, the European Union as well as other parts of the world.  As stated in the paper by Nadimi et al., “polyol-based sugar-free products may decrease dental caries incidence.”

The paper by Nadimi et al. focused on the potential of confections and beverages that contain “acidic flavorings and preservatives” to cause enamel erosion based primarily onin vitro and ex vivo studies, not human studies   Definitive conclusions cannot be drawn from in vitro and ex vivo studies, as they do not reflect the human condition.

The current research indicates that individual susceptibility to tooth erosion varies depending on one’s behavior, lifestyle, diet and genetic make-up.  It is impossible to single out any one food or beverage as the cause of dental erosion considering the many factors that determine individual dental health, including the types of food consumed, the length of time foods stay in the mouth and the level of oral hygiene and access to professional dental care.

 

Are sugar-free confections really beneficial for dental health?

 

faq2Do you have questions about low-calorie sweeteners? Want to learn more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle? You asked and we listened. Our resident Registered Dietitians answered the most popular questions about low-calorie sweeteners.

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