Introduction

Dental caries was identified by the National Institute of Health’s 2021 Oral Health in America report as the most prevalent chronic disease in children and adults.¹ The Oral Health Surveillance report (2017-2020) reported that 11% of children aged 2-5 years, 17% of children aged 6-9 years, 10% of adolescents 12-19 years, and 21% of adults aged 20-64 years had untreated caries.² Individuals of minority racial or ethnic backgrounds and/or living in poverty have higher rates of caries experience (untreated, filled, missing teeth) across the lifespan.² Untreated caries can lead to pain, tooth loss, compromised dietary intake, missed school and work, and lower quality of life. Understanding the role of fermentable carbohydrates in the caries process enables the oral health care practitioner (OHCP) to screen patient’s diets for diet-related caries risk and provide appropriate counseling or referrals.