The food we eat and our oral health are interconnected. Even before birth, and from the cradle to the grave, nutrition plays a role in the oral health of an individual. Oral health also has an impact on food intake at all ages. Babies can only eat soft foods before their teeth grow and allow variety. This also applies to adults who have lost their teeth or are suffering from severe oral health problems.

This article describes how nutrition and oral health are related, and what should and should not be done to maintain a healthy mouth and a healthy body.

What we can say dental professionals about oral health and nutrition February 1

Here are some things to your dentist or dental hygienist can tell you about nutrition, if you take the time to ask.

According to an article published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, diet plays an important role in preventing oral diseases including dental caries, dental erosion, developmental defects, diseases of the oral mucosa and lesser extent, periodontal disease. ” The work of Paula J. Moynihan, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England summarizes the evidence of an association between diet, nutrition and oral diseases.3

Poor nutrition increases the damage of oral and dental diseases. Poor nutrition is also associated with developmental defects of enamel, increased risk of dental caries.

A balanced diet oral health benefits by strengthening immunity. Michael P. Rethman, DDS, MS, a former president of the American Academy of Periodontology perio.org listed on the website of the AAP: “A diet low in important nutrients that can make it harder for the body’s immune system to fight infection.”

food levels are high in starchy staple foods, fruits and vegetables are linked to low levels of dental caries. So a diet rich in starchy staple foods, fruits and vegetables and low in free sugars and fats, protects the oral and general health.

The sugars are linked to dental caries. Control levels of sugar in the diet is a key factor in preventing tooth decay. Soft drinks, a key source of acid in the diet causes dental erosion. It is also best to limit the consumption of juices that are high in sugars and acids, which could lead to tooth abrasion and gum recession.

Fluoride in drinking water has not eliminated dental caries.

The daily calcium intake is important because it plays a vital role in building density in the alveolar bone supporting the teeth. Calcium is needed for healthy bones and teeth. The results of a study published in the Journal of Periodontology found that those who have less than 500 milligrams, half the recommended dietary allowance of calcium were twice as likely to have periodontal disease.

Vitamin C plays a role in the maintenance and repair of healthy connective tissue, in addition to its antioxidant properties. Those who drank less than 60 mg recommended dose of vitamin C per day-about one orange can sometimes be almost one and half times the risk of developing severe gingivitis as compared with those who consume three times the recommended dose. Gingivitis causes the gums to become red, swollen and bleed easily, and is the earliest stage of gum disease.

Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of periodontal disease. Patients with diabetes should try to reduce levels of cholesterol and serum triglycerides through diet and exercise.

Drink plenty of water keeps your mouth moist and helps prevent dental caries and periodontal disease by removing food and neutralize plaque.

Brushing and flossing after meals helps to keep the major oral health. This is especially necessary after eating sticky, sugary foods.

It is important to protect the teeth and oral health in older people. the flow of saliva necessary to chew and swallow food decreases with age. Can lead to omitting the elderly healthy foods in your diet, food solution instead of a mushy, moist, soft and sticky texture. This can be detrimental to your health.4 long-term problems with dentures or dental problems can also create nutritional problems in older adults.