Repercussions of unhealthy diet on the oral health of children and adolescents

Abstract:

Modern way of life brings us increasingly available fast food and diminishing oral hygiene. It is not surprising that early childhood caries remains one of the major public health problems. Research have shown that it is five times more prevalent than asthma and even fourteen times more prevalent than chronic bronchitis. As such, early childhood caries represents a significant challenge in contemporary pediatric dentistry. The main etiological factor for the development of early childhood caries is inadequate nutrition, which, in addition to oral problems, also leads to issues with body weight and other health problems. Adopting healthy dietary habits from the earliest days, along with appropriate oral hygiene practices, brings lifelong benefits.

Key words:
early childhood caries; healthy diet; oral hygiene