N utritive and N on-Nutritive S weeteners : A R eview

The importance of sugar as the principal dietary substrate that drives the caries process has led to growing interest in sugar substitutes. Dynamic relation exists between sugars and oral health. Dental profession shares an interest in the search for safe, palatable sugar substitutes to prevent dental caries and have attempted to persuade their patients to adopt special dietary programs to limit the frequency with which sugar containing foods are ingested. Hence, this paper reviews the role of various nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners and its role in prevention of dental caries which provides a framework for consumers and health professional in maintaining the intake of sugar.