Caries Process, Prevention and Management: The Diet
Course Number: 713
Course Contents
Frequency of Intake
Evaluation of Stephan curves tracking individual or multiple eating events suggests that the plaque pH requires about 30-60 minutes to return to normal levels following an eating event. Thus, prolonged snacking and/or multiple eating events are thought to increase caries risk. Palmer reported that children with early childhood caries consumed foods and beverages more frequently than children without caries (Figure 9).21 Marshall reported that increased snacking at ages 1, 2, 3, and 4 years of age were associated with increased caries risk at 5 years of age.17 Secular dietary patterns have devolved in recent times with many individuals having unstructured eating patterns. Unstructured eating has been associated with an increased caries risk.22
Figure 9. Palmer’s Frequency21