Marshall, T. (2016, April). The Impact of Diet and Nutrition On Oral Health.

Dimensions of Dental

Hygiene. Retrieved on April 17, 2024, from

https://dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/article/the-impact-of-diet-and-nutrition-on-

oral-health/

Dental hygienists serve as health educators during nutritional counseling, a very

important part of oral hygiene instruction (OHI). Nutritional counseling should always be

touched on when discussing the patient’s homecare at their dental appointment. Nutritional

counseling is important for patients to understand the relationship between their oral health

and their diet influences to make informed decisions for their oral health and oral disease

prevention.

Cariogenic foods such as dietary carbohydrates produces acid for the caries process.

Caries risk also increase by stickiness of foods. Non cariogenic sugars like glucose, sucrose,

fructose, and lactose, non cariogenic foods also include diary and vegetables. Consumption

behaviors are also important in nutritional counseling as it can modify caries risk. Structures

meals and snaking lowers caries risk while grazing, sipping sugary drinks can increase caries risk.

Rinsing with water, chewing sugar free gum, and appropriate oh is important for patient

knowledge.

Nutrition related disease such as obesity and poorly controlled diabetes increases risk of

periodontal disease. Low vitamin D and low calcium are also related to periodontitis.

Appropriate nutrition is important for normal functioning immune system. Oral health relies a

lot on diet choices.