NUTRITION AND ORAL HEALTH

By Simiyu Nalianya

WHO defines oral health as a state of being free from chronic mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral infection and sores, periodontal disease, tooth decay, tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that limit an individual incapacity to bite chew, smile, speak and psychosocial well being. it's clearly evident that oral health is important to avoid the listed problems.

With this kind of information is essential to keep our mouth clean and healthy, in such cases of poor oral health, people tend to have low self-esteem because of maybe the smell or the loss of teeth or bleeding gums, furthermore when experiencing such problems an individual tend to shy away from certain foods, foods that are hard to chew and opt for softer foods.

When an individual starts to use only softer unbalanced meals it means they are avoiding other meals which will lead to some deficiencies because the food intake is affected and now you will be sick not only orally but physically, your capability to work will be compromised. malnutrition will slowly impair the innate and adaptive defences of the host including secretory antibody and cytokine production and function which may lead to the evolution of life threatening diseases.

Ingestion of fluoride during enamel formation can lead to dental fluorosis, so excess use of fluorine is water is not advised, starches consumed at its natural state or sometimes raw in the case of fruits and vegetables can depress plague PH, consumption of cows milk will help protect dental carries because of the calcium and lactose, phosphorus and casein that it contains, studies have proven that there is a relationship between breastfeeding and dental cavities that when you breastfeed exclusively and properly it reduces the chances of children having dental issues.

Increase of naturally occurring sugars like in fruits and vegetable is highly recommended compared to added sugars but put in mind that research has proven that consumption of more acidic food like vinegar reduces the tooth PH and thus causing erosion in dental cavities. to achieve good oral health means we also have to consider our diet in general because good oral health leads to betterment of health in general.

Compiled by Sharon Tallam