Running head: NUTRITION AND ITS EFFECTS ON ORAL HEALTH 1

Nutrition and Its Effect on Oral Health

Kalia M. Crook

DHYG 415

Fall Quarter 2018

November 20th, 2018

NUTRITION AND ITS EFFECT ON ORAL HEALTH
2

Nutrition and Its Effect on Oral Health

Introduction

Diet and nutrition play a large role on our systemic health. What we regularly take in

effects how we function in our day to day life and can even determine if we are at risk for

developing certain lifestyle diseases like diabetes and heart disease in the future. It is reasonable,

then, to identify the connections between diet and its effects on oral health. Around the world,

diet varies from country to country. In some areas, malnutrition is common and can cause

vitamin deficiencies that contribute to oral developmental defects. In other areas, the excess

sugar content available creates a larger occurrence of caries and periodontitis in a population.

This issue is of worldwide importance because when diet plays such a vital role in the

development of serious oral diseases like periodontitis, dental caries and developmental defects,

it is critical to understand how to alter diet to prevent such a high occurrence of these serious

diseases.

Nutrition and Its Effect on Oral Health

Over the years, nutrition has changed from country to country. Sugar has become more

readily available in westernized countries, while poverty and malnutrition are still heavily

apparent in other parts of the world. This type of drastic difference in diet can affect all

populations oral health. Regarding periodontitis, malnutrition plays a large role in its prevalence.

One study noted that “nutrient deficiencies can compromise the associated inflammatory

response and wound healing… malnutrition is associated with increased needs for calories and

protein to promote repletion, wound healing, and an improved immune response” (Touger-

Decker & Mobley, 2003, p. 616). Malnourished patients suffer from weakness and those with

periodontitis can suffer from body-image issues as well as pain due to the disease in their mouth.
NUTRITION AND ITS EFFECT ON ORAL HEALTH
3

When a patient is malnourished and not getting the vitamins and minerals they need, it has a

direct influence on the cytokines and their reparative action in calling other white blood cells to

aid in the immune response. When cytokines cannot be activated, the immune response is

diminished, leaving infection and inflammation to overwhelm the few white blood cells fighting

against the infection. Thus, periodontitis flourishes. Changes to diet can be made to aid in

preventing periodontitis. Adding antioxidant nutrients like ascorbic acid (vitamin C), beta-

carotene and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) to diet can enhance the immune system and help

pathogen fighting cells like phagocytes perform their tasks better (Moynihan, 2005, p. 694)

Vitamin C and other antioxidants can be found in citrus fruits like “strawberries, pineapples, and

mangos” (Stephenson-Laws, 2017, p. 13).

Another oral disease that can be affected by diet is dental caries. Early childhood caries is

still the most common disease faced by young people today. A large contributing factor in that

disease development is how much sugar intake the population is taking in. In westernized

countries, sugar has become much more prevalent than in the past. In the last 30 years, the influx

of sugars in daily diet has increased substantially, especially in food advertised towards children.

As children develop caries and teeth must be extracted due to disease, it can affect their self-

esteem, their growing facial structure, as well as their occlusion in their permanent dentition.

One study noted that there is “small but highly significant correlations between intake of sugars

and caries development, with strongly significant differences in caries levels between those with

the highest and lowest intakes of sugars” (Moynihan, 2005, p. 695). Sugars effect caries by

feeding cariogenic bacteria and making them produce acid that breaks down tooth structure. To

prevent caries and make it less of a statistical normalcy, especially for children, fluoride

treatment is vital as a bactericidal and remineralizing agent. Also, a study was done in Finland
NUTRITION AND ITS EFFECT ON ORAL HEALTH
4

where they replaced sugar with xylitol, which “resulted in an 85% reduction in dental caries over

a 2-year period” (Moynihan, 2005, p. 695). Looking at alternatives and gauging sugar intake can

help prevent caries in adults, as well as children.

Lastly, developmental defects due to nutrient deficiencies are more common than they

should be, as they are generally preventable. Those who suffer from developmental defects can

suffer from self-image issues and low self-esteem. Around the world, 1 in 700 babies are born

with a cleft lip or palate. This developmental defect has been “associated with cigarette smoking

and folate deficiency” (Touger-Decker & Mobley, 2003, p. 618). Folic acid is a form of B

vitamin that helps in the development of infants as it aids in the formation of the neural tube,

later becoming the brain and spinal cord. It can be found in “peas and nuts, avocado, dark green

vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, brussels sprouts, asparagus, and citrus fruits and juices”

(Stephenson-Laws, 2017, p. 13). While the patient is pregnant, a folate supplement can really aid

in decreasing the chance of a developmental defect like cleft lip or palate. Another interesting

thought brought out in another study is that “one episode of mild to moderate malnutrition in the

first year of life and/or folate deficiency was associated with increased incidence of caries in

deciduous and permanent teeth later in life” (Touger-Decker & Mobley, 2003, p. 618). As an

infant, if an individual is not getting the vitamins and nutrients they need, it affects them in the

future as they are developing their permanent dentition. So proper nutrients during pregnancy

and in an infant's first few years of life play a vital role in their oral health in the present and

future.
NUTRITION AND ITS EFFECT ON ORAL HEALTH
5

Conclusion

It is important as a global community for us to be aware of how diet affects not only our

systemic health, but our oral health as well. What we take into our bodies plays such a vital role

in the development of serious oral diseases like periodontitis, dental caries and developmental

defects. Understanding how diet affects these diseases helps us prevent them in the future.

Regarding periodontitis, by including antioxidants like vitamin C from citrus fruits into a diet, it

aids in the immune response and helps fight the inflammation contributing to the periodontitis

disease. Dental caries has a non-deniable correlation with high sugar intake. By limiting sugar

intake or finding sweet alternatives, like xylitol, we will be able to hinder acid production in the

mouth and demineralization of tooth structure. Some developmental defects can also be

prevented, like cleft palate or lip, by increasing folate acid levels during pregnancy through a B

vitamin supplement and healthy eating. Overall, eating a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and

starches, and not over indulging in sugars can help us protect our bodies and teeth worldwide and

in every culture.

.
NUTRITION AND ITS EFFECT ON ORAL HEALTH
6

References

Moynihan, P. J. (2005). The role of diet and nutrition in the etiology and prevention of oral

diseases. World Health Organization. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 83(9),

694-9. Retrieved from

http://lmcproxy.lwtech.edu:2507/login?url=https://lmcproxy.lwtech.edu:2482/docview/229

585914?accountid=1553References

Stephenson-Laws, J. (2017). Periodontal disease and nutrition: Reduce gum disease with these

critical nutrients. Dental Assistant, 86(6), 12-13. Retrieved from

http://lmcproxy.lwtech.edu:2507/login?url=https://lmcproxy.lwtech.edu:2482/docview/205

1214136?accountid=1553

Touger-Decker, R., Mobley, C. C., & American, D. A. (2003). Position of the American Dietetic

Association: Oral health and nutrition. American Dietetic Association. Journal of the

American Dietetic Association, 103(5), 615-25. Retrieved from

http://lmcproxy.lwtech.edu:2507/login?url=https://lmcproxy.lwtech.edu:2482/docview/2

18406917?accountid=1553