PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY INSERVICE TRAINING COURSE FOR THE EVALUATION OF DENTAL CARIES CONTROL TECHNICS September 8 through 13, 1947 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

THE DEGRADATION OF SUGARS IN THE MOUTH AND THE USE OF CHEWING GUM AND VITAMIN K IN THE CONTROL OF DENTAL CARIES

¹ SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, CHICAGO, ILL.

On the basis of theoretical considerations, prewar gum should increase caries activity in some individuals, have no effect on others, and be beneficial to some, if not used in excess. Postwar gum should be beneficial to many but under certain conditions may be harmful. In any case, gum would be less harmful than sugar in other forms.

On the basis of theoretical considerations and actual experiments, vitamin K shows promise of controlling caries. More evidence is needed before either gum or vitamin K should be recommended to the general public as a control measure.