Nutritional Counseling in Prevention of Caries – A Team Approach

Inappropriate dietary habits and unhealthy food preferences developed during childhood have lifetime implications. Therefore, it is not wise to wait until the oral or chronic disease manifests; every child‘s diet should be screened and evaluated at regular intervals. Unhealthy dietary habits and food choices should be identified, appropriate recommendations and referrals made to limit disease risk. Pediatricians and other primary care providers have an established role in the prevention and early identification of health problems. Providing patients with age-appropriate anticipatory guidance, nutritional counseling on caries prevention, assessment and timely referrals should be a co-ordinated team approach involving pediatricians and dentists particularly the pediatric dentists.