Vipeholm Study

How exposure to retentive and nonretentive sugars both at and between meals influences caries risk was explored at a hospital setting in Vipeholm, Sweden in the 1940s.¹⁴ The hospital was divided into 12 separate wards preventing sharing of the different diets between subjects. Subjects within a ward were provided various carbohydrate containing foods (i.e., breads, toffee, caramel, sucrose); access was provided at meals or both at and between meals (Figure 7). Caries incidence was higher for sweets proved both at and between meals than when provided at meals only.

Figure 7. Adapted from: Gustafsson BE, et al. The Vipeholm dental caries study; the effect of different levels of carbohydrate intake on caries activity in 436 individuals observed for five years.¹⁴

Figure 7. Adapted from: Gustafsson BE, et al. The Vipeholm dental caries study; the effect of different levels of carbohydrate intake on caries activity in 436 individuals observed for five years.¹⁴