Sweeteners
added sugar causes dental caries
Part of: • Added sugar
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: All trials, pooled (Meta-analysis)
How the studies fall
What the evidence shows
The most firmly established harm of dietary sugar: free/added sugars — especially in sugar-sweetened beverages — are the primary dietary cause of dental caries, via acid produced when oral bacteria ferment them. Systematic reviews underpinning WHO guidance show a consistent dose-response, which is precisely why sugar-free sweeteners exist for oral care. measured_by:: [[dental caries]]
The evidence (3)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moynihan & Kelly 2014 · J Dent Res | meta-analysis | supports | high | WHO-informing SR: restricting free-sugar intake reduces dental caries; consistent dose-response across the lifespan. |
| Valenzuela et al. 2021 · Eur J Public Health | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | SR/MA: sugar-sweetened beverage consumption associated with higher dental caries and erosion. |
| Moynihan 2016 · Adv Nutr | observational | supports | moderate | Review: free sugars are the key modifiable dietary cause of caries; effect scales with amount/frequency. |
Disagree, or know a study we missed?
We grade by evidence, not opinions. The way to weigh in is to point us to a study we haven't cited (check the evidence table above first), or to flag a problem with one we have. Every submission is reviewed; if it holds up, the grade updates and shows in Science Changes Its Mind.
Opens a short form. You'll sign in with Google so submissions are tied to a real account — we don't display your identity, and we only accept a link we can verify (PubMed, DOI, ClinicalTrials.gov).
Educational only, not medical advice. Grades and scores reflect published evidence weighted by study design and quality; see the methodology.