[Sugar substitutes in the prevention of dental caries: review of the literature].

The prevention of dental caries is not only limited to the use of fluorides or sealants which, in combination with health education programmes and an appropriate oral hygiene, decrease the prevalence of the disease. The partial substitution of sucrose with nonfermentable sweeteners in the diet have shown to have a caries-inhibitory effect. A literature review regarding sugar substitutes is presented. The objective is to identify and describe the different kinds of sweeteners, with special emphasis in sugar alcohols like xylitol and sorbitol, which have shown to have such caries inhibitory-effect.