FACTORS INFLUENCING DENTAL CARIES 



265 



Fig. 2. When young hamsters harbor cariogenic microorganisms, coloniza- 

 tion (plaque formation) rapidly develops on the coronal sm-faces of the teeth. 

 The photograph above was taken of a living animal to show the plaque which 

 had covered the lingual sulcus and parts of the crown of the maxillary second 

 molar. Bacterial activity in this accumulation had largely destroyed the disto- 

 buccal cusp of this tooth (arrow) about 3 weeks after commencement of an 

 appropriate diet. 



It is evident that there are various levels at which nutrients will be 

 (1) adequate for the host and inadequate for the microflora, (2) 

 adequate for the microflora and inadequate for the host, (3) un- 

 favorable for both, or (4) satisfactory for both. See Fig. 3. The 

 studies of Shaw (1949) and Shaw and Griffiths (1960) show that an 

 experimental diet can be adequate for growth, reproduction, and 

 general health of the host and at the same time favor bacterial ac- 

 tivity associated with caries. Although some workers have suggested 

 a difi^erent interpretation, the available evidence indicates little 

 association between nutritional status and dental caries. This holds 

 for animal studies and also for human populations (Russell et ah, 

 1961 ) . In the interest of clarity and scientific accuracy, the question 

 is whether one should accept the nutrition-caries interrelationship on 

 exceedingly tenuous grounds or emphasize the importance of eating 

 habits and dietary factors as they really are. 



The property of food substrates which has been investigated for 



