ORAL HEALTH & MALNUTRITION-“THE MISSING LINK”

Nutrition is major determinants of health status exerting the “womb to tomb” effect which mediates the course of various health outcomes. Each individual has got different nutritional requirements at different ages and stages of their life. Each nutrient has a unique role in maintaining the integrity of the oral tissues. The world faces two kinds of compromised nutrition - one associated with hunger or nutritional deficiencies like protein energy malnutrition (P.E.M) and the other with dietary excess or obesity. Although not life threatening, oral diseases exert detrimental effect on quality of life from childhood to old age. A bi-directional relationship exists between nutrition, diet and dental health. Incorrect diet may lead to oral diseases and also poor oral health may compromise healthy food choices and general health. The unfavourable outcomes of malnutrition and oral diseases are likely to be greatest among the pediatric and geriatric populations who are particularly susceptible to malnutrition