Diet, nutrition, dental health linked to overall health

People don’t often think about the connection teeth have with long-term health and wellness. But research continues to reveal how dental health influences other health issues.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Oral conditions are frequently considered separate from other chronic conditions, but these are inter-related. Poor oral health is associated with other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Oral disease also is associated with risk behaviors such as using tobacco and consuming sugary foods and beverages.”

This is echoed in the 2023 Policies and Recommendations on Diet and Nutrition adopted by the ADA House of Delegates: “Resolved, that the American Dental Association acknowledges that oral health depends on proper diet and nutrition, and it is beneficial for consumers to avoid a steady diet of ultra-processed foods — defined as industrial creations reformulated with little if any whole foods, often additives and containing large amounts of added sugar and salt — especially those containing added sugars and low pH-level acids to help maintain optimal oral health, and be it further resolved, that the ADA encourages the dental professional community to … empower their patients to adopt a healthy dietary pattern of consuming a balanced diet with little to no ultra-processed foods containing added sugar.”

Full story: My New Orleans

The article presented here is intended to inform you about the broader media perspective on dentistry, regardless of its alignment with the ADA's stance. It is important to note that publication of an article does not imply the ADA's endorsement, agreement, or promotion of its content.