Reducing sugar consumption to prevent dental issues
Official title: Overcoming Barriers to Implementing Policies to Reduce Sugar Consumption for Dental Caries Prevention
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10913311 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping dentists share tips and strategies to encourage everyone to cut down on sugar for better dental health and overall well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 6, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $174,798 |
| NIH project number | 5K08DE028947-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10913311 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk for dental caries, particularly those with high sugar consumption habits.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who already maintain a low-sugar diet or have no risk factors for dental caries may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on promoting public health interventions aimed at reducing sugar consumption to prevent dental caries and improve overall health. It involves engaging dental professionals to adopt and disseminate evidence-based policies that encourage lower sugar intake. The approach includes creating educational materials, conducting outreach, and collaborating with community coalitions to implement effective strategies. By addressing the barriers to policy adoption, the research aims to enhance the role of dentists in promoting healthier dietary choices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a significant reduction in dental caries and related health issues among the population.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in similar public health interventions aimed at reducing sugar consumption and improving dental health outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kearns, Cristin Elizabeth — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Kearns, Cristin Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how buprenorphine in the mouth could affect dental health
This NIH grant investigates why buprenorphine, taken for opioid use disorder, may harm teeth and how to prevent it for people using this treatment.
-
Fluoridated bottled water to prevent cavities in young children
A large, patient-facing trial tests whether having fluoridated drinking water in bottled form can prevent tooth decay in children from infancy to early childhood.
-
Why under-the-tongue buprenorphine may harm teeth
This project looks at how buprenorphine taken under the tongue may cause tooth damage in people treated for opioid use disorder.
-
Understanding how Streptococcus mutans builds sugars that drive tooth decay
Researchers will study how the tooth decay bacteria S. mutans makes different sugar polymers, aiming to uncover why these polymers help the bacteria stick to teeth and cause dental caries.
-
Understanding how dental cavities change over the nation using smart statistics
A nationwide study will use advanced statistical methods to better understand how dental caries develop and vary across the U.S., based on NHANES data.
-
Bacterial genes linked to severe childhood cavities
This project looks at specific genes in the cavity-causing bacterium Streptococcus mutans to learn why some strains lead to severe tooth decay in young children.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.