Oral health

Market globalization had a significant impact on dietary habits, leading to an excess food intake and, as a consequence, to an increase of chronic diseases – such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis – and oral diseases.

Oral health correlates with diet through, amongst others, the influence of nutrition on craniofacial development, oral cancer and oral infectious diseases. However, the most significant influence of diet in oral health is on dentition, through the development of dental cavities and erosion of tooth enamel.

Several studies have provided convincing evidence of an association between the amount and frequency of sugary foods and drinks consumed and dental cavity.

Countries where the intake of free sugars is low, should not increase it, as available evidence shows that, when free sugar intake is below 15-20kg/year (6-10% of energy intake), there’s a low dental cavity prevalence.