An Evaluation of the Role of Vitamins and Minerals in the Control of Caries

It has been possible to produce clear evidence that certain-vitamins and minerals are required for the formation of teeth of normal structure. It has been very difficult, however, to demonstrate that mature teeth require these nutrients in amounts greater than are needed to prevent gross and obvious signs of deficiency in other tissues. My first task will be to review the evidence in sup-port of these statements. I shall, thereby, indicate why it appears that a min-eral or vitamin deficiency must be present during the period of tooth formation if the tooth is to be affected in a manner which could lower its susceptibility to decay. As a sort of after-piece to the first topic, I shall attempt to present a summary of the somewhat controversial evidence which has been produced to show that single mineral or vitamin deficiencies are important causal factors in dental caries. The effects of inadequate diets on developing teeth cannot always be stated in quantitative terms. Our best device, at present, for indicating the importance of the effects produced by nutritional deficiencies on teeth is to compare these