Vitamins Are Important for Oral Health at Any Age
Vitamins are good for oral and dental health in the young and the old. Separate research studies from all over the world, show that vitamins and a diet rich in fruit and vegetables help promote dental and oral health in kids and adults.
Results of a study conducted in Taiwan, and published in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research shows that vitamin A intake and the amount of vegetables in the diet can significantly lower dental caries in children. Dental caries is the most common dental problem in American children, and according to the latest statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in five children, or 19 percent of those between the ages of 2 to 19 have untreated dental cavities.
A study conducted to find a correlation between dental health and nutrition among elderly Japanese community dwellers between 65 and 85 years of age, showed that those whose diet included lesser amounts of vegetables, resulting in lower vitamin C intake and higher amounts of foods rich in sugar had more tooth contact loss in old age compared to those with a relatively healthier diet.The study, published in the Geriatric & Gerontology International, concluded that natural tooth contact loss at the back of the mouth is related to vitamins and fiber content in the diet. Retaining tooth contact enables seniors to consume a varied diet, helping them stay healthy well into old age.
It has been known for some time that people whose diet contains lower amounts of fruit and vegetables are at higher risk of developing certain cancers. On the oral cancer front, an article published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association recommends that oral health care professionals should provide dietary advice to oral cancer patients as part of their routine patient education process.
The Food Pyramid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reminds you that your diet should be healthy and balanced. When visiting the Food Pyramid site, don’t forget to check out the different food groups. In particular, check out the food galleries for fruits and vegetables. They are a colorful and delicious reminder about how much you should eat from each type of fruit or vegetable to make up a healthy diet.
More resources on nutrition and oral health
You can read more about oral health and nutrition on the Lifestyle Diet and Nutrition section on FreeDentistFinder.com.
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