Association between type, amount and pattern of carbohydrate consumption with dental caries.

Dental caries is a disease with a multifactorial etiology; consumption of dietary carbohydrates is one of the most important etiological factors as they are processed by bacteria in the dental plaque via the glycolytic pathway producing acids, mainly lactate. Frequent and prolonged exposure of the teeth to dietary carbohydrates generates an acidic plaque environment, which promotes the demineralization of the dental enamel, causing caries.

In addition, frequent consumption of simple carbohydrates promotes the overgrowth of cariogenic bacteria in the dental plaque, such as the mutans streptococci and the lactobacilli, as these are more resistant to acidic environments than the less cariogenic species. 

This explains how diets rich in sugars increase the risk of caries.