Kathryn Borg’s article on dental decay (The Sunday Times of Malta, June 28), while highlighting the role of sugar in the high incidence of dental caries in children, decries research on other “spurious factors”.

There are three essential requirements for dental decay: a tooth, refined sugar and bacteria present in dental plaque. Unless all three are present, there can be no dental caries. Removing the tooth would defeat its own purpose, but tackling either or both of the other factors can be a positive measure.

Controlling sugar intake was and remains a public health preventive measure which the dental profession, even before the 1950s, has fully supported and promoted. Unfortunately, as in the tobacco/cancer link, it is difficult to enforce.

In the early 1960s, I was a minor member of a research group working on the bacterial and vaccine issues and, should eventually a successful answer be forthcoming, the results would be much more tangible than the difficult task of cutting sugar intake.

The Cadbury and Fry families, both Quakers, generously supported caries research mainly prompted by social conscience issues. It is a pity that Borg’s well-meaning articles are often negated by the insertion of unjustified sensational and ‘conspiratorial’ statements.