THE RELATIONSHIP OF FOOD CONSUMPTION AND SALIVARY FLOW TO THE INCIDENCE OF DENTAL CARIES IN THE RAT

¹ Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.

The cariogenic influence of desalivation and the anticariogenic effect of food restriction has been demonstrated. A combination of influences resulting from restricting the food intake of desalivated rats suggests that the absence of saliva is a more pronounced cariogenic factor than diet restriction is an anticariogenic factor. However, these data are not convincing in regard to the individual effects of desalivation and food restriction, since the data obtained, when both factors are combined, indicate a decreased rate of caries formation and not a reduction in the incidence of caries.