Speaking about Sugar with Dr. Cristin Kearns

Dr. Chiraz Guessaier spoke with Dr. Cristin Kearns about the journey that sugar has taken to fully permeate our diet. Dr. Kearns research started to look at the practices of the sugar industry in 2007.

Highlights

Dentists often speak with patients on an individual level about the impact sugar in diets has on dental health; however, the discussion should also involve the population at large. Food labelling practices promote foods that are high in sugar. The cane and beet sugar industry has had a strong influence on the food industry by casting doubts on the link between sugar and health concerns.

There is contradictory evidence being published frequently about the effect of sugar on diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The sugar industry has helped sponsor caries vaccine research and research into adding special enzymes that would breakdown plaque such that sugar consumption would not necessarily need to be restricted, if there are other ways to combat dental caries.  However, the dietary issue at the population level does not get as much attention.

Practising dentists in their communities, dental schools and dental organization can all play a role in educating the public and advocating for better overall and oral health for the population at large.