Sir, It would appear, if correctly reported, that Professor Michael Gibney does not understand the damage which continually ingesting sugar does to teeth (Irish Times, September 3rd). Good oral hygiene will not protect your teeth if your diet consists of quantities of simple sugars (e.g. sucrose) eaten throughout the day. Sugary foods should only be eaten at meal times.
This has been known for a long time, and the classic Vipeholm study (Gustaffson et al 1954) clearly showed that consumption of even large amounts of sugar is associated with only a small increase in dental decay, if sugar is taken up to four times a day and none between meals. Many other studies confirm this conclusion and it is not correct as Professor Gibney suggests, to say" that good oral hygiene can take care of your teeth irrespective of dietary factors.
There also seems to be some confusion over simple sugars, e.g. sucrose, fructose, etc. and more complex carbohydrates, e.g.
vegetables, bread, cereals, etc. It is surely better to advise people to increase their input of complex carbohydrates and reduce fax consumption, and not also to encourage the eating of simple sugars which are associated with dental caries and are largely empty calories. Yours, etc (dental surgeon), Dundrum, Dublin 16.