Food for Thought: The Relationship Between Oral Health and Nutrition
Course Number: 583
Course Contents
Introduction
Oral health is a critical component of overall systemic health and significantly influences an individual’s quality of life. Yet, poor oral health affects over four billion people globally.1 Research has established strong connections between chronic oral conditions and systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders—driven by inflammation linked to imbalances in the oral microbiome.1
Dental patients often struggle to interpret nutritional information and make informed dietary choices. Conditions such as early childhood caries, oral lesions, and periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss, which may further impair mastication and hinder the proper digestion of nutrient-dense foods—compounding nutritional challenges and impacting overall health.