Pediatric Nutrition and Tooth Development

Oral health is a vital component of a child’s overall health, significantly influencing both their overall physical and psychological development. Nutritional imbalances, whether from undernutrition or overfeeding can increase risk of dental decay, delayed or impaired tooth development, underdeveloped mandible, and reduced salivary flow.¹⁹ Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of diet and food quality, due to rapid growth and physiological demands.

Nutritional status of the body influences the pre-eruptive phases of tooth development. Deficiencies in vitamin D, C, B, A, and protein have been associated with enamel hypoplasia, making teeth more susceptible to a cariogenic environment.¹⁹

While vegetables and fruits offer nutrient dense calories that support healthy development, processed food high in preservatives and sugar significantly alter the oral microbiome. These dietary choices can overwhelm the buffering capacity of saliva and disturb the mouth’s natural pH balance.¹⁹

This underscores not only the importance of food quantity and quality, but also the need for education, targeted at patients, parents, and caregivers, and strong interprofessional collaboration between dentists and pediatricians to promote optional oral and overall health in children.