Sugars: The Foundation of Oral and Systemic Disease

Caries is diet-dependent; without ‘sugars’ caries do not occur. Furthermore, oral and systemic chronic diseases share common dietary risk factors. This presentation will review sugars and diet quality in oral and systemic diseases, diet-related caries screening and counseling, and environmental barriers (i.e., food/water insecurity) to healthy diets. The audience will identify strategies to enable the office team to engage patients to reduce oral and systemic disease risk.
Objectives:
1. Describe the role of added sugars intakes in oral and systemic disease.
2. Present a diet-related oral health screen with appropriate counseling strategies.
3. Identify environmental barriers to healthy dietary habits, and strategies to overcome such barriers.
1.0 credit pending