Potencjał kariogenny produktów żywieniowych i nawyki dietetyczne a choroba próchnicowa zębów u dzieci i młodzieży

In this article, the cariogenic potential of different foods was discussed with special attention focused on cariogenic products containing sugars, including sweetened beverages, fizzy drinks, fruit drinks, juices, chocolate and food “fast food” products. The problem of local cariogenic influence of medicines containing saccharides, which are dosed orally, especially syrups and lozenges, and which are dosed by inhalers. The article also describes the influence of dietary habits on frequency of caries in children and teenagers considering the following factors: regularity and frequency of the meals, consistency of the products and the order of consuming either low- or high-cariogenic index foods. The dietary education undergoing simultaneously with other caries-preventing measures was recognised as a top priority in young patients and is recommended in order to decrease the harmful influence of sugar-consisting foods on hard tissues of the tooth.