The Relationship of Nutrition Components and Life Style to Dental Caries: A Review Article

Background: This review aimed to express the exact role of nutrition components including carbohydrates, fats, proteins and other dietary factors such as probiotics, micro and macro nutrients and the life pattern including body weight in the development of dental caries. Methods: Carbohydrate”, “fat”, “protein”, “vitamin and mineral”, “probiotics” and “lifestyle”, along with “dental caries”, “cavitation” and “or dental cavitation were searched in PubMed, SCOPUS and  Web of sciences databases.  Results: In this study, 28 articles were included; since cariogenic effects of fermentable carbohydrate containing foods and the amount and frequency of consuming such foods have been known, recommendations to replace sugar with starchy foods to avoid dental caries are of questionable value; vitamins and minerals are important in controlling the occurrence of oral inflammation and enhancement of immunity; fat containing foods that play a role as bacterial adherence could be induced by hydrophobic interactions which get facilitated by a lipid-rich environment. Although there are differences in the salivary lipid content of caries-sustainable and caries-resistant individuals, a meta-analysis showed that there was a moderate association between dental caries and the salivary lipid content. Proteins also are known as cariostatic agents; however, their effects might differ according to their types of amino-acids. Probiotics might play beneficial roles as antagonistic agents on acidogenic bacteria that will reduce dental decay. Sedentary lifestyles among children associated with an increased consumption of unhealthy diet rich in sugar can increase the risk of both weight gain and dental caries. Conclusions: Specific programs focusing on health promotion and education strategies are needed.