This document discusses the relationship between nutrition, diet, and oral health. It covers topics like the role of nutrition in tooth development, the effects of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, the relationship between diet and diseases like dental caries and periodontal disease, and the link between diet and oral cancer. Key points addressed include how vitamins D and C deficiencies can impact tooth structure, how diet was linked to a reduction in dental caries during World War 2, and how certain foods and habits like tobacco and alcohol use increase the risk of oral cancer.

1. NUTRITIONDIET AND ORAL HEALTH
3 lectures:
1. Nutrition& oral health
2. Dietaryconsiderations inthe etiologyof Dental cariesandDental Erosion
3. Diet advice andDiet Counselling
SLO
 Discuss the role ofdiet inhealth/oralhealth
 Differentiate the difference between diet andnutrition.
 Describe the effect of nutritionanddiet onoral health.
SLO 1
How does the mouth relate to goodhealth?
 The mouthis the entrypoint for foodandthe beginning ofthe gastrointestinal tract.
 The abilityto chewandswallow is important in eating
 Good oral health plays anintegralrole inassuringadequate nutritionalintake
Definition
 Diet :choice of foods andwhich foods are eaten
 Nutrition:intake & absorptionof nutrients
 Deficienciesandexcesses– causesdefects in the structure of teeth
Effect of nutrition ondental health
-Nutritioncontributes to development ofhealthoral health structures like Teeth, Periodontium ,Soft tissues
Nutritionand Teeth
1. Teeth consist largelyof calcium & phosphate.
 VitaminD deficiency
 poor calciummetabolism
2. Effect development of teeth
 Poorlycalcified
 Hypoplastic
 susceptible to decay
3. Poorlyaligned
 Poorlydevelopedcountries
Studies ofLadyMayMellanby
 Vit D deficency-impairs toothdevelopment
 - Improved diet during the war years withrespect to vitamin& calciumintake was responsible for improveddental
health -
 Showedthat enamel hypoplasia increased susceptibilityto dental caries
 Showed that vit D supplementation reduced the incidence of dentalcariesinchildren
Fluorosis
 The appropriate use of fluorides :important factor incontrol ofCaries
 excessive ingestioncausesdevelopmental defects of enamel.

2. Nutrition& the periodontium
I. Periodontal tissues:• Epithelium, collagen fibres, bloodvessels, cementum, bone. • periodontaltissueswill benefit
from good nutrition
II. Periodontal diseasesprogresses more rapidlyin undernourished population
III. VitaminCdeficiency – scurvy– affects the periodontal tissues
Oral hygiene care
 Fibrous foods e.g apples, nature’s toothbrush - cleaningawayplaque, whichis soimportant inperiodontal disease.
 the most important wayof maintainingperiodontal health in humans is regular thoroughphysical removal ofdental
plaque with a satisfactorytoothbrush.
Diet & Oral Cancer
• Diet is a preventable riskin oralcancer
Studies:
 Protective role of Vit C, fruits & vegetables
 the most important dietaryinfluence onthe occurrence of oral cancer is alcohol. The evidence is extensive and
consistent.
 Tobacco smoking
 Betel –nut chewing
Noma
 is stronglylinkedto malnutrition and, where the mouth is the specific target.
 This is noma (or cancrumoris).
 Noma is most commonlyfoundinAfrica
 It tends to occur in childrenaged3-16 years and, if untreated, mortalityis veryhigh
 very stronglylinkedto malnutrition, with deficiencies ofzinc andvitamins A and Cbe ing suggested. Acute ulcerative
gingivitis maybe a precursor and maybe linked to foot rot in animals, as close proximityof domestic animalsappears
to be a risk factor
Dental erosion
 definedas the irreversible loss ofdental hardtissue from acids, without the involvement of bacteria. Etiologyis
multifactorial
 can be from intrinsic (oftendue to acidreflux) or
 extrinsic sources (diet, particularlysoft drinks;and industrial or environmental chemicals).