A Critical Appraisal of Diet and Nutrition on Oral Health in Children- A Review. -

Oral health is related to diet in many ways, for example, nutritional influences on craniofacial development, oral cancer and oral infectious diseases. Nutrition affects the teeth during development and malnutrition may exacerbate periodontal and oral infectious diseases. However, the most significant effect of nutrition on teeth is the local action of diet in the mouth on the development of dental caries and also enamel erosion. Despite improved trends in levels of dental caries in developed countries, dental caries remains prevalent and is increasing in developing countries undergoing nutrition transition. Dental caries is the most common chronic disease of childhood and is five times more frequent than asthma, which is the second most chronic disease. Problems with oral health affect all children. However, the importance of oral health for children with special health care needs is particularly relevant.