Hopewood House Study

The Hopewood House was a home in rural South Whales, Australia that provided care for economically deprived children from birth through 12 years of age in the 1950s.¹³ While living in Hopewood House, the children consumed a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet with emphasis on whole grains and raw vegetables. Sugars and refined starches were quite limited. While in residence at Hopewood House, the caries prevalence of children was much lower than that observed in children attending state schools consuming a diet containing sugars and refined starches (Figure 6). At 12 years, the children moved out of Hopewood House and adapted the diet of the local community at which time their caries incidence paralleled that of their peers attending the state schools. This study suggests that teeth do not acquire permanent protection against dental caries.

Figure 6. Adapted from: Harris R. The biology of the children of Hopewood House¹³

Figure 6. Adapted from: Harris R. The biology of the children of Hopewood House¹³