The Effect of Irradiation-induced Hyposalivation on Dental Caries Induction in Rats Fed High or Low-Sucrose Diet

The effects of X-ray irradiation to the salivary glands on the induction of dental caries were examined in specific pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats fed either a high (containing 56% sucrose) or a low-sucrose (containing 28% sucrose and 28% wheat flour) diet and inoculated with a strain ofStreptococcus mutans. Hyposalivation was induced by irradiation (35 Gy) and dental caries was significantly enhanced in irradiated rats fed a high-sucrose diet. However, the recovery of the strain ofS. mutans from rats fed high-sucrose was not significantly higher than that of rats fed a low-sucrose diet.