2 Pregnancy , Child Nutrition , and Oral Health

Growth and development begin with pregnancy and continue through adolescence and early adulthood. Growth is defined as increases in cell size caused by processes of cell multiplication involving hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and accretion. Development involves a progressive maturation, differentiation, or specialization that results in a final physical, emotional, psychological, and cognitive biological state. The effects of nutrition are manifested throughout this process and in all tissues and structures in the body (1). Both general nutrition and dietary intake of specific nutrients have been associated with oral growth and development. Dietary choices throughout life can have a primary effect on the tooth structure, whereas nutritional status exerts a systemic effect on the integrity and maintenance of other oral tissue (2). However, research in this area has been limited to animal studies and a few preliminary human investigations. Lack of an extensive body of evidence to identify associations between specific nutrients and optimum oral growth and development has resulted in limited interpretations of the precise interactions. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the synergy between oral health development and nutritional status from conception to adolescence and to review past, present, and future research in this area according to stages of development that include pregnancy, infancy, early childhood, and school-aged children. Finally, this chapter identifies issues in managing oral health and promoting nutrition for special-needs individuals during pregnancy and childhood.