[Consumption of sweets and freedom from caries in Basle school children]

A sample of 1'838 school children of Basle, aged 8 to 14 years, who were examined by dentists of the school dental health service, attended at the same time a 24 hour recall interview on nutritional habits. The data show that absence of caries (among 448 or 24,4% of all) is more frequent within those children who prefer fruits instead of sugar containing sweets with and especially between the meals. Since school children are not able to distinguish well between sugar- and non-sugar containing sweets and drinks, health education on such subjects is emphasised.