Starches

Foods items composed primarily of starch include plain potatoes, rice, pasta, and some breads. Oral bacteria can metabolize starches to sugars in the mouth; however, the length of time required is extensive. Thus, pure starches are not considered cariogenic. Palmer et al reported that intakes of ‘low cariogenic’ foods including rice, pasta, cooked vegetables, milk, fresh fruit, and unsweetened yogurt were similar between children with and without early childhood caries.²¹ Marshall et al similarly reported that primarily starch foods consumed at snacks did not increase caries risk while those consumed at meals were associated with a lower caries risk in young children.¹⁷ On the other hand, Palmer reported that processed starches (i.e., breads, chips, crackers and sweetened cereals) were associated with an increased caries risk.²¹