Investigating Nutritional Behavior and Oral Health Habits among Adults and Children in Nοrth-Eastern Greece

Abstract

The importance of the oral microbiota is strictly linked to global human health. When imbalance of the oral microbiota occurs, and it is characterized by shifts in bacterial composition and diversity; a state called dysbiosis is settled. There is an increasing amount of scientific evidence that this condition is associated with oral diseases caries, gingivitis and periodontitis. Diet seems to be a key factor for oral and dental health, impacting upon the oral microbiota. In an attempt to clarify the role of diet, as well as other implicating risk factors predisposing to oral disease, in the present study we enrolled an urban area of north-eastern Greece. Socio-demographical as well as hygienic and nutritional habits of a target group consisting of adult and children were entered in our study through a survey. People of the studied area are less interested in preventive and other dental therapies. Children and adults are less interested in healthy eating, yet they often consume sugary foods and often outside of their main meal. The partial shifting to the standard of the Mediterranean diet and less to the standard of the western type foods is notable. It is important to raise the awareness of both children and adults through strategical campaigns and education on oral health, oral hygiene and the benefits of a balanced diet.

Nutritional Factors Associated with Dental Caries across the Lifespan: A Review

“…For instance, in Thailand, children received health education every three months, showcasing the efficacy of such interventions [28]. Greek researchers compared different age groups and observed more pronounced benefits from educational interventions among the younger cohort [32]. Studies by Kariya et al [30], Lueangpiansamut et al [27], and da Silva et al [28] indicated that children with lower body mass index (BMI) faced an elevated risk of dental caries, although Rani et al [26] reported different findings in their survey.…”

“…Studies by Kariya et al [30], Lueangpiansamut et al [27], and da Silva et al [28] indicated that children with lower body mass index (BMI) faced an elevated risk of dental caries, although Rani et al [26] reported different findings in their survey. The evaluation of oral health was consistently conducted by experienced dentists across all studies [21,31,32], with oral health knowledge specifically assessed in only one study [23]. This study not only compared rural and urban populations but also juxtaposed their results with those from other counties [23].…”

“…The selection of these databases was based on their reputation, comprehensiveness, and relevance to healthcare and dental research (Table 1). We further used the following criteria of inclusion for the second part of the study as mentioned elsewhere [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. During the subsequent phase of the literature search, two reviewers systematically conducted screening and data extraction from the identified articles.…”

“…Furthermore, considering that beliefs underpin habits, a thorough investigation or reconstruction of these beliefs becomes imperative within the counseling process [102]. Consequently, although individuals with dental caries may recognize the importance of dental check-ups for their health, the decision to modify their diet can pose considerable challenges [32]. Thus, addressing the thoughts and emotions surrounding eating problems becomes an integral aspect of the problem-solving process.…”

Cyclodextrins as Multi-Functional Ingredients in Dentistry

“…Their delicate balance can be easily disrupted by a variety of factors and, when this happens, it can lead to a variety of local diseases, such as cavities, gum disease, and halitosis, as well as some systemic diseases. Diet is an important factor affecting the oral microbiome, with the excess intake of processed foods, a common action in modern developed societies, being associated with a higher incidence of cavities and periodontal disease; the reduced intake of fruits and vegetables, causing less abundance of vitamins in the human host, also contributes to this scenario [ 3 , 4 ]. In this context, maintenance of adequate oral hygiene practices is essential to counteract the buildup of acid compounds resulting from sugar fermentation by the microbiome, avoid biofilm formation and reduce the risk of oral diseases [ 4 ].…”