Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices of diet and nutrition on oral health among dental students

Abstract

Introduction: Oral health is governed by a multitude of factors and of importance among these is diet and nutrition. Patients need to be made aware of the effect diet and nutrition has on their oral health. Patients should also be encouraged to reduce the frequency of intake of sugary foods. Dentists need to have adequate knowledge regarding diet and nutrition and its effects on oral health. Dental students can be targeted at an early stage as they will be the beacons of dentistry and carry on the knowledge into private practice. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of the undergraduate dental students regarding diet and nutrition and its impact on oral health and to assess their attitude and practice towards the same. Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire based study was carried out among 203 undergraduate students (122 third BDS, 22 Final BDS and 59 Residents) from dental colleges in Davangere, Karnataka. The responses were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 22 and the tests used were Frequency distribution and Pearson Chi-Square test. Results: Most of the participants (82.3%) were aware that sucrose is the most cariogenic sugar. 84.2% of the students knew the type of food that helps in preventing dental caries and strengthening the periodontium, yet only a few (19.2%) were able to correctly choose the most anticariogenic food among the options. Conclusion: While most of the students were aware of the basic knowledge of diet and nutrition and its effect on the oral health, their attitude and eagerness towards the concept should be nurtured through extensive and in detail addition of diet in the curriculum to ultimately help patients maintain a better oral hygiene and prevent oral diseases.

Perceptions of diet diaries’ usage in pediatric dental practice

“…The prospective method consists of recording the diet using diet diaries or diet sheets. [ 17 18 19 20 21 ] This method is considered to be more valid due to its accurate representation of the patient’s dietary habit. It is considered as an effective dietary assessment tool for incorporating behavior changes in the dietary pattern of the patient.…”

Present and Future Treatment Modalities for the Mitigation and Cure of Periodontal Diseases

“…On the other hand, a diet high in sugars and processed foods can contribute to gum disease by promoting bacterial growth and inflammation. Educating patients about the impact of nutrition on their oral health and encouraging healthy dietary choices can complement periodontal treatment and promote long-term gum wellness [69,70].…”

Consumer Attitudes as Part of Lifestyle in the COVID-19 Emergency

“…Another factor related to ecological aspects are the phenomena of deconsumption and sustainable consumption [10][11][12]. The idea of sustainable consumption differs from the phenomenon of deconsumption in that the latter concerns mainly economic issues, while the former is concerned with the moderate purchase of goods that do not have a negative impact on the natural environment [5,8,13]. When analyzing the rationale of people following different nutritional trends and lifestyles, attention should be paid to the financial aspect.…”

“…Understanding the impact of the pandemic on lifestyle and mental well-being is critical to the increasingly observed COVID-19-related lifestyle [11,21]. The nature of COVID-19 led to dramatic changes in the daily routine, resulting in increased social isolation [6] and financial insecurity [23], as well as a change in diet [13]. The COVID-19 situation has also led many people to exhaustion, anxiety and stress, reducing interest in complex flavors.…”