Editing Sucrose (section)

==== Tooth decay ====
[[Dental caries|Tooth decay]] (dental caries) has become a pronounced health hazard associated with the consumption of sugars, especially sucrose. Oral bacteria such as ''[[Streptococcus mutans]]'' live in [[dental plaque]] and metabolize ''any'' free sugars (not just sucrose, but also glucose, [[lactose]], fructose, and cooked [[starch]]es)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animated-teeth.com/tooth_decay/t2_tooth_decay_caries.htm |title=What causes tooth decay? |publisher=Animated-teeth.com |access-date=2010-05-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209031710/https://www.animated-teeth.com/tooth_decay/t2_tooth_decay_caries.htm |archive-date=2010-02-09 }}</ref> into [[lactic acid]]. The resultant lactic acid lowers the pH of the tooth's surface, stripping it of minerals in the process known as tooth decay.<ref>[https://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/548toothdecay.html Tooth Decay] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025132424/https://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/548toothdecay.html |date=2014-10-25 }}. Elmhurst.edu. Retrieved on 2011-11-18.</ref><ref>[https://www.animated-teeth.com/tooth_decay/t2_tooth_decay_caries.htm What causes tooth decay?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209031710/https://www.animated-teeth.com/tooth_decay/t2_tooth_decay_caries.htm |date=2010-02-09 }}. Animated-teeth.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-18.</ref>

All 6-carbon sugars and disaccharides based on 6-carbon sugars can be converted by dental plaque bacteria into acid that demineralizes teeth, but sucrose may be uniquely useful to ''[[Streptococcus sanguinis]]'' (formerly ''Streptococcus sanguis'') and ''Streptococcus mutans''.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Tanzer|first=JM|title=Essential dependence of smooth surface caries on, and augmentation of fissure caries by, sucrose and Streptococcus mutans infection|journal=Infection and Immunity|date=August 1979|volume=25|issue=2|pages=526–31|doi=10.1128/IAI.25.2.526-531.1979|pmid=489122|pmc=443577}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite thesis|last=Darlington|first=W.|title=Metabolism of sucrose by Stepococcus sanguis 804 (NCTC 10904) and its relevance to the oral environment|type=Ph.D Thesis|publisher= University of Glasgow |date=August 1979}}</ref> Sucrose is the only dietary sugar that can be converted to sticky glucans (dextran-like polysaccharides) by extracellular enzymes.<ref name=Sherris>{{cite book | veditors = Ryan KJ, Ray CG | title = Sherris Medical Microbiology | edition = 4th | publisher = McGraw Hill | year = 2004 | isbn= 978-0-8385-8529-0 }}</ref> These glucans allow the bacteria to adhere to the tooth surface and to build up thick layers of plaque. The anaerobic conditions deep in the plaque encourage the formation of acids, which leads to carious lesions. Thus, sucrose could enable ''S. mutans'', ''S. sanguinis'' and many other species of bacteria to adhere strongly and resist natural removal, e.g. by flow of saliva, although they are easily removed by brushing. The glucans and levans (fructose polysaccharides) produced by the plaque bacteria also act as a reserve food supply for the bacteria.
Such a special role of sucrose in the formation of tooth decay is much more significant in light of the almost universal use of sucrose as the most desirable sweetening agent. Widespread replacement of sucrose by high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has not diminished the danger from sucrose. If smaller amounts of sucrose are present in the diet, they will still be sufficient for the development of thick, anaerobic plaque and plaque bacteria will metabolise other sugars in the diet,<ref name="ReferenceA"/> such as the glucose and fructose in HFCS.