Periodontal Nutrition
In 1996, the American Dietetic Association issued the following statement, “It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that nutrition is an integral component of oral health.”
In 2003, the group updated its statement, “Collaboration between dietetics and dental professionals is recommended for oral health promotion, disease prevention, and intervention. Oral health is an integral part of systemic and nutritional health … . Chronic disease such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease that are modulated by diet and nutrition intervention have oral sequelae. As we advance in our discoveries of the links between oral and nutrition health, practitioners of both disciplines must learn to provide nutritional screening … . Scientific and epidemiologic data support the lifelong synergy between nutrition and oral health status in health and disease….”
As dental health care practitioners, we are in a significant position to identify systemic nutritional deficiencies by learning to identify the oral signs and symptoms of deficiency apparent in the soft tissues of the mouth. As for treatment, our intent should be to nutritionally supplement the oral tissues. Simultaneously, we will improve the general health status of patients. The relatively new discipline of periodontal medicine has taught us that no matter what, as we improve the health of our patients’ oral tissues, we improve their overall health.
The World Health Organization issued the following statement regarding nutrition and oral health, “Nutrition … influences craniofacial development, oral cancer, and oral infectious diseases. Dental disease related to diet include dental caries, developmental defects of the enamel, dental erosion, and periodontal disease.”
With research substantiating the critical connection between oral and systemic disease, it is incumbent upon dentists, hygienists, and entire dental teams to take periodontal nutrition seriously. Current research establishes that our patients’ systemic health is directly related to our ability to effectively educate and motivate them to achieve and maintain periodontal health.
Dr. Samaha of the Perio Arts Institute was recently invited to present a webinar to help explain some of the links between periodontal nutrition and systemic health. You can view the webinar in its entirety on our webinar page.
