The Nutritional Link to Periodontal Health
Periodontitis is ubiquitous in the United States, affecting 60% of those age 65 and older and more than 40% of individuals age 30 and older.1 According to the American Academy of Periodontology, in 2018, the cost of untreated periodontitis was $154 billion.2 Of these costs, approximately $3.49 billion is related to direct treatment expenses, with an additional $150.58 billion in indirect costs related to complications and lost productivity.2 Dental hygienists are integral to the prevention of this costly disease.
Nutrition is a key factor in the development of periodontitis. Macronutrients and micronutrients may indirectly alter patients’ ability to develop structures in the oral cavity, resist inflammation, or repair tissue or wounds.3 Dental hygienists should be familiar with these nutrients and their impact on periodontal health, so they can help their patients understand how the foods they eat contribute to periodontal health.
* References and figures can be found in the original article via the link above.
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