Nutrition in dentistry prelim

• dental caries- infectious disease of teeth in which organic acid metabolites lead to gradual demineralization of enamel
• streptococcus mutans- most common bacteria involved in dental caries
• endocarditis- bacteria from tooth decay can enter blood stream and inoculate heart valves
• medical sequelae of dental caries- bacteria from tooth decay can enter blood stream and inoculate heart valves, cause of bacterial endocarditis
• fluoride- primary anticaries agent
• cariogenic- containing fermentable carbohydrates that can cause a decrease in salivary pH to < 5.5
• cariostatic- not metabolized by microorganisms in plaque to cause a drop in salivary pH < 5.5
• cariogenic foods- promotes formation of caries; fermentable carbohydrates those that can be broken down by salivary amylase
• cariostatic food- foods that do not contribute to decay
• anticariogenic food- prevent plaque from recognizing an acidogenic food when it is eaten first (includes xylitol and cheeses)
• Periodontal disease- inflammation of the gingiva with destruction of the tooth attachment apparatus (gingivitis - early form)
• Stomatitis- inflammation of oral mucosa
• Cardidiasis and herpes simplex- fungal and viral infections which can affect mouth and esophagus causing pain and dysphagia
• Xerostomia- dry mouth
• Kaposi's sarcoma- lesions in mouth and esophagus; associated with aids