[Microbiological in vitro and animal experiments assessing the cariogenic potential of various snacks]

Microbiological in vitro and animal experiments were performed to determine the cariogenic potential of different snacks. The determination of the oral salivary sugar clearance time by the aid of a cariogenic S. mutans strain as standard for the cariogenic potential resulted in a relatively high clearance time when a praline was consumed, according to a high cariogenic potential. When consuming a "safe for teeth"-product no easily fermenting substances in the saliva can be shown, suggesting a lacking cariogenic potential. The cariogenic potential of banana, milk-chocolate, Milchschnitte, Müsli-Frucht-Schnitten (cereals and fruits) is between that of the praline and the "safe for teeth"-product. The animal experiments showed in increasing strength of fissure caries after programmed feeding of the following snacks: Basic-diet----milk-chocolate----positive control-diet/Milchschnitte Müsli-Frucht-Schnitten----banana. The highest caries values occurred after having fed banana, the lowest after having fed milk-chocolate. Milchschnitte and Müsli-Frucht-Schnitten showed similar caries values which were between the values after feeding of milk-chocolate and banana.