It’s estimated that 3.5 billion people worldwide are affected by oral diseases - the impact on quality of life is significant, and treatment is costly, therefore oral disease is considered a major public health problem. We know that good nutrition is key to protecting oral health. Early intervention is also vital for short- and long-term health, as oral health in childhood can influence the development of non-communicable  diseases (NCDs) in later life. Furthermore, as we are experiencing an increasingly ageing population the prevalence of NCDs is expected to rise. In older age impaired  dental status is common and may influence food choice and nutrient intake, further increasing the risk of poor oral health and NCDs. Therefore, emerging research has been looking at this interesting area of the bidirectional relationship between oral health and NCDs such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

In this British Nutrition Foundation webinar, we will look at oral health and nutrition across the life-course, particularly in the ageing population, and the bidirectional relationship between oral health and NCDs.

Programme

Oral health and nutrition across the life course: public health implications for the individual and society

Sarah Coe, British Nutrition Foundation

The influence of oral health on diet and food choices in the elderly

Prof Gerry McKenna, Queens’ University Belfast

Bidirectional relationship between oral health and NCDs: how oral health and systemic health conditions are linked

Zehra Yonel, University of Birmingham

The British Nutrition Foundation is grateful to Mars Wrigley for providing an educational grant towards the success of this webinar. However, the programme has been directed by the Foundation alone, which is committed to producing independent, evidence based science.