Nutrition for Oral and Dental Health Flashcards
Dental Caries
An oral infectious disease in which organic acid metabolites lead to gradual demineralization of tooth enamel, followed by rapid proteolytic destruction of the tooth structure.
The 4 Factors that Cause Dental Caries
Must be present simultaneously:
- A susceptible host or tooth surface
- Microorganisms such as Streptococcus or Lactobacillus in the dental plaque or oral cavity
- Fermentable carbohydrates in the diet, which serve as the substrate for bacteria
- Duration in the mouth for bacteria to metabolize the fermentable carbohydrates, produce acids, and cause a drop in salivary pH to <5.5
Streptococcus Mutans
Most prevalent bacteria involved with dental caries.
Fermentable Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates susceptible to the actions of salivary amylase and are the ideal substrate for bacterial metabolism. Found in grains, fruits, and dairy.
Fluorosis
Occurs when too much fluoride is provided during tooth development and can range from mild to severe and present on teeth from unnoticeable to very apparent dark spots on teeth.
Cariogenicity
Refers to the caries-promoting properties of a diet or food.
Cariogenic Foods
Those that contain fermentable carbohydrates, which, when in contact with microorganisms in the mouth, can cause a drop of salivary pH to 5.5 or less and stimulate the caries process.
Cariostatic Foods
Do not contribute to decay, are not metabolized by microorganisms, and do not cause a drop in salivary pH to 5.5 or less within 30 minutes. These foods include: proteins foods such as eggs, fish, meat, and poultry; most vegetables; fats; and sugarless gums.
Anticariogenic Foods
Are those that, when eaten before an acidogenic food, prevent plaque from recognizing the acidogenic food. They may increase salivation or have antimicrobial activity and include both cheese and xylitol, the sweetener found in sugarless gum.
Plaque
A sticky, colorless mass of microorganisms and polysaccharides that forms around the tooth and adheres to teeth and gums. It harbors acid-forming bacteria and keeps the organic products of their metabolism in close contact with the enamel surface.
Early Childhood Caries (ECC)
Often called “baby-bottle tooth decay”, describes a caries pattern in the maxillary anterior teeth of infants and young children. Characteristics include rapidly developing carious lesions in the primary anterior teeth and the presence on tooth surfaces not usually associated with a high caries risk.
Periodontal Disease
An inflammation of the gingiva with infection caused by oral bacteria and subsequent destruction of the tooth attachment apparatus. Local and systemic disease.
Edentulism
Tooth loss.
Stomatitis
Inflammation of the oral mucosa, causes severe pain and ulceration of the gingiva, oral mucosa, and palate, which makes eating painful.
Candiadiasis and Herpes Simplex
Fungal and viral infections on the tongue, palate, or esophagus can make chewing, sucking, and swallowing painful.
