Dental caries and blood groups in South African blacks.

DMFT scores were determined in series of 1) urban Black adolescents (132 boys, 143 girls) aged 16-18 yr, and 2) rural Black mothers (480) aged 20-35 yr. Each series was divided into upper and lower thirds, with respect to DMFT. No relationship was apparent between segments with good versus inferior teeth, and blood groups.

Dental caries in South African rural black women who had large families and long lactations.

A general recommendation for good bone and teeth formation is that a high intake of calcium is essential. Some consider that pregnancy and lactation, with associated calcium depletion, could aggravate caries development. South African black mothers in rural areas have habitually low calcium intakes, and usually several pregnancies and long periods of lactation. To learn whether high parity is detrimental to caries scores, investigations were made on a selected total of 521 black mothers, 250 aged 35-44 years, and 271 aged 45-54 years. Each group was sub-divided into those with small families (1-3 children) or large families (5 + children). The numbers involved were 122 and 133 mothers, and 128 and 138 mothers, respectively. Studies revealed: black mothers had very much lower mean caries scores than values reported for white mothers, who are accustomed, inter alia, to high calcium intakes, have few children, and often no or short lactation periods; black mothers of large compared with small families did not have significantly higher mean caries scores; and upper and lower thirds of black mothers respecting calcium intake, and sugar intake, did not have significantly different mean caries scores. Hence, in the context studied, it would seem that high parity has no obvious effect on caries scores.

PIP: A general recommendation for good bone and teeth formation is that a high intake of calcium is essential. Some consider that pregnancy and lactation, with associated calcium depletion, could aggravate caries development. South African black mothers in rural areas have habitually low calcium intakes, and usually several pregnancies and long periods of lactation. To learn whether high parity is detrimental to caries scores, investigations were made on a selected total of 521 black mothers, 250 between ages 35-44 and 271 ages 45-54. Each group was subdivided into those with small families (1-3 children) or large families (5+ children). The numbers involved were 122 and 133 mothers, and 128 and 138 mothers, respectively. Studies revealed that black mothers had much lower mean caries scores than values reported for white mothers, who are accustomed, inter alia, to high calcium intakes, have fewer children, and often no or short periods of lactation; black mothers of large compared to small families did not have significantly higher mean caries scores; and upper and lower thirds of black mothers respecting calcium intake and sugar intake did not have significantly different mean caries scores. Thus, in the context studied, it would seem that high parity has no obvious effect on caries scores.

Contrasting patterns of caries profile and dental treatment in pupils of 16-18 years in South African ethnic groups.

Investigations on caries profile and state of teeth treatment were made on 3752 high school pupils of 16-18 years, namely, rural and urban Black, Indian, Colored (Eur-African-Malay) and White pupils. Rural Blacks had a low mean DMFT of about 2, and a caries-free prevalence of 52%. Of the few with affected teeth, 10% were extracted, none filled, and 90% decayed; i.e. restorative dental attention was virtually nil. Among English and Afrikaans pupils attending Government Schools, mean DMFT was about 10, and caries-free prevalence negligible. Of affected teeth, 13% were extracted, 59% filled and 28% decayed. The situations regarding the urban Black, Indian and Colored groups were intermediate. The Jewish pupils, well-circumstanced and attending private school, had a mean DMFT of 6.5, moreover 6% were caries-free. Of affected teeth, 1% had been extracted; 93% were filled, and only 6% remained decayed. Since it transpired that the diets of the three White subgroups, cariogenically, were much the same, the advantageous position of the Jewish pupils was judged to be due primarily to their excellent oral hygiene motivation, particularly their demonstrably regular visits to dentists.

Dental caries in South African black and white high school pupils in relation to sugar intake and snack habits.

DMFT scores, total sugar intakes and snacks habits were determined in 1918 South African Black pupils (923 rural, 995 urban) and 724 White pupils (English and Afrikaans speaking) aged 16-18 years inclusive. Mean DMFT scores of school groups of Black pupils (both sexes) ranged from 0.9 and 2.0 in rural areas, to 4.2-6.7 in urban areas (where data were far higher than such obtained 7 years ago), and were 9.2 and 10.2 for White pupils. Corresponding mean daily sugar intake were - rural Blacks, 69 g and 97 g, urban Blacks 118-141 g, respectively (all slightly higher than previously); and Whites 102 g and 123 g. Mean DMFT scores of girls were higher than those of boys; yet while mean sugar intakes of Blacks girls and boys were somewhat similar, White girls' intakes were much lower than those of White boys. In the ethnic-sex groups studied, mean DMFT scores for pupils in upper, compared with lower, third of sugar intake, were higher in nine of the 14 sub-groups. Mean DMFT scores in upper, compared with lower, third of exposure to snack practices were higher in 11 of the 14 groups. However, most of the differences were slight. In further research, more intensive enquiries should be pursued on roles of ethnic and familial factors, as well as on roles of inter-acting dietary components additional to sugar and sugar-containing foods.