Refined starches cause tooth decay: study

AUCKLAND: White bread and noodles are ranked highly alongside cereals and softdrinks as the main causes of tooth decay in children, a new study has shown.

Conducted by Starship hildren's Hospital and the University of Auckland, the study looked at dental records and eating habits of more than 4000 children.

It found foods high in sugar and high in refined starches caused cavities and decay.

Lead author Dr Simon Thornley said diet was found to be the strongest link with dental caries.

``The key culprits were foods that were high in sugar and high in refined starches. This information should inform our oral health promotion work in this country because many people would not be aware that frequently consuming foods such as white bread, rice and noodles could put children at greater risk of dental caries.''

Dr Thornley said some foods were associated with a lower number of cavities, including wholemeal or whole wheat bread, some vegetables and cheese.

``It's positive to learn that threequarters of children studied had no dental caries at their first community dental appointment, but ethnicity and socioeconomic status were strongly associated with dental outcomes.

``Pacific children were four times more likely to have four or more dental caries at their first community dental appointment, while Asian and Maori children were twice as likely to have four or more dental caries at their first appointment,'' he said. — RNZ