Title: Nutrition and Oral Health
Course: DES 2710 General and Oral Nutrition > Section: Module Eleven

Introduction

In this module we will discuss how oral health affects nutritional intake. The frequency of refined carbohydrates and other factors has a direct affect on dental caries rates.  Another issue with oral health and nutrition is periodontal disease.  Even though there is not a direct correlation between the two the roles of certain nutrients in wound healing and support of the periodontium speak of the need to consider nutrition when evaluating risk for periodontal disease.  Good nutrition also plays a part in the growth and development of oral structures and deficiencies in some of these nutrients are related to oral defects.  Finally there are certain procedures in the dental specialties that can affect a patient’s ability to consume a balanced diet which require recommendations to insure adequate nutritional intake to support the healing process.

Objectives

Upon completion of this module, the student will be able to:

- Describe the nutrients and their role in the general function, growth and development of oral tissues
- Discuss the role of diet in the initiation and progression of dental caries and periodontal disease.
- Describe other oral conditions that can affect nutritional intake
- Understand and use the key terms related to the chapter.

Readings and Resources:

Readings include the chapters from the book and articles assigned by instructor

Chapters 17, 18 and 19 in the textbook

Oral Health in America:  A Report of the Surgeon General 2010

http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/datastatistics/surgeongeneral/report/executivesummary.htm

“Healthy People 2020:  Oral Health”

http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=32

“Impact of Inhalation Therapy on Oral Health”:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3213714/

Assignments

- Complete Readings and Viewings
- Complete Assignment 8