Nutrition for oral health and oral manifestations of poor nutrition and unhealthy habits.

The availability of proper nutrients is critical for the growth, development, maintenance, and repair of healthy dentition and oral tissues. Deficiencies particularly relevant to the dental practice are those in folate and other B complex vitamins; vitamins A, C, and D; calcium; fluoride; and protein. A lack of these nutrients affects nearly every structure in the oral cavity, causing or contributing to scurvy, cleft palate, enamel hypoplasia, poor mineralization, caries, and other pathoses. Damage to the dentition can also be observed in individuals with unhealthy habits; for example, a diet high in sugars will promote processes such as demineralization and caries. Diabetes also can result from a poor diet and is associated with periodontitis and oral candidiasis. Finally, the use of tobacco products and excessive alcohol intake damage the dentition and contribute to a variety of oral diseases, including stomatitis, malnutrition, and squamous cell carcinoma. Knowledge of these relationships will enable the dentist to question patients about dietary habits and provide guidance to encourage a healthy lifestyle.