Editing Sugar (section)

=== Tooth decay ===

The WHO, [[Action on Sugar]] and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) consider free sugars an essential dietary factor in the development of dental caries.<ref name="WHO 2017">{{Cite web|date=2017|title=Sugars and dental caries|url=https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sugars-and-dental-caries|website=World Health Organization|language=en-GB|archive-date=11 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811044111/https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sugars-and-dental-caries|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019|title=Sugars and tooth decay|url=https://www.actiononsugar.org/sugar-and-health/sugars-and-tooth-decay/|website=Action on Sugar|language=en-GB|archive-date=24 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724031923/https://www.actiononsugar.org/sugar-and-health/sugars-and-tooth-decay/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2015|title=SACN Carbohydrates and Health Report|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-carbohydrates-and-health-report|website=Public Health England|language=en-GB|archive-date=21 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821161928/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-carbohydrates-and-health-report|url-status=live}}</ref> WHO have stated that "dental caries can be prevented by avoiding dietary free sugars".<ref name="WHO 2017"/>

A review of human studies showed that the incidence of caries is lower when sugar intake is less than 10% of total energy consumed.<ref>{{cite journal|pmc=3872848|year=2014|last1=Moynihan|first1=P. J|title=Effect on Caries of Restricting Sugars Intake: Systematic Review to Inform WHO Guidelines|journal=Journal of Dental Research|volume=93|issue=1|pages=8–18|last2=Kelly|first2=S. A|pmid=24323509|doi=10.1177/0022034513508954}}</ref> [[Sugar-sweetened beverage]] consumption is associated with an increased risk of tooth decay.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Valenzuela MJ, Waterhouse B, Aggarwal VR, Bloor K, Doran T|year=2021|title=Effect of sugar-sweetened beverages on oral health: a systematic review and meta-analysis|journal=Eur J Public Health|url=|volume=31|issue=1|pages=122–129|doi=10.1093/eurpub/ckaa147|pmid=32830237}}</ref>