Functional foods/ingredients and dental caries.

In dentistry, there is a well-established practice of fluoridating water, salt and milk for the prevention of dental caries. The use of other foods to promote oral health is another step in the same direction, and the development of research into adding therapeutic benefit to food is welcome. As the mouth is at the beginning of the gastrointestinal tract, the potential to capture oral health benefits from the emerging developments in functional foods is considerable. This chapter will consider whether the prevention of dental caries could benefit substantially from the development of functional foods. ‘Functional Foods’ are foods or foods with components that may provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition. Examples can include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fortified or enhanced foods and beverages, and some dietary supplements. Functional attributes of many traditional foods are being discovered, while new food products are being developed with beneficial components. This chapter will present an overview of the possible role of functional foods in caries prevention. Caries process