Dietary characteristic | Examples | Impact on cariogenicity |
Macronutrient composition |
Carbohydrate composition of food item |
| - Table sugar
- Honey
- Maple syrup
| Increased – readily fermented |
| | Increased – slowly fermented |
| | Increased – readily fermented |
- Combined (sugar plus modified starch and/or starch)
| - Pastries
- Cookies
- Crackers
| Increased |
- Carbohydrate plus protein and/or fat
| | Decreased |
Meal/snack composition |
- Inclusion of foods containing protein or fat
| - Eggs and toast
- Meat, potatoes, and broccoli
- Sweet snack followed by nuts or cheese
| Decreased |
Oral clearance |
Rapid | - Sugar-sweetened beverages
| Decreased |
Slow | - Baked sweets
- Salty snacks
- Sticky foods (eg, jelly beans, taffy, raisins, sugar-containing chewing gum)
| Increased |
Meal patterns |
Prolonged eating events | | Increased |
Frequent eating events | | Increased |
Structured/scheduled meals and snacks¶ | | Decreased |