Collaboration between dietitians and physicians of various specialties—endocrinologists, gynecologists, and gastroenterologists—is widely known and practiced. Diet supports the functioning of the thyroid, intestines, and endocrine system. Meanwhile, the oral cavity remains largely neglected. Despite growing awareness of an interdisciplinary approach to health, collaboration between dentists and dietitians remains rare.
Cite: Rybarska K. Why can't modern dentistry do without a dietitian? Nowy Gabinet Stomatologiczny; 7/2025
Most patients with periodontal disease, hypersensitivity, or caries receive recommendations for oral hygiene, but nutritional issues often remain overlooked. Meanwhile, a growing body of research confirms that diet plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health. Nutrition influences not only the development of caries but also the course of periodontal disease, the healing process after surgical procedures, implant integration, and may even impact the orthodontic treatment process.
Why is cooperation with a dietitian so important?
The Nutrition Care Practices of Dietitians and Oral Health Professionals for Oral Health Conditions review (Nutrients, 2021) shows that oral health problems affect over 3.5 billion people worldwide, and tooth decay remains the most common chronic condition. The scale of this problem is influenced not only by poor hygiene but also by a pro-inflammatory diet high in simple sugars, trans fats, and highly processed foods. Despite abundant scientific evidence, most dentists and dental hygienists have never referred patients to a dietitian. The main barriers identified by specialists include lack of time, low awareness of the impact of diet on oral health, consultation costs, lack of reimbursement, and limited knowledge of clinical nutrition.
Meanwhile, lifestyle and nutrition are crucial to the functioning of the entire body, including the oral cavity. A healthy immune system is the foundation of overall health and an effective defense against many diseases. In the dental context, this means that without attention to the patient's diet and overall metabolic health, the effectiveness of oral disease treatment may be limited.
A clinical dietitian has the training and tools to conduct a detailed analysis of a patient's diet and identify dietary factors that increase the risk of caries and oral inflammation. Furthermore, they can propose personalized nutritional interventions, which enhance the effectiveness of dental treatment by modifying the patient's lifestyle. As Kingsnorth et al. (J Hum Nutr Diet, 2021) emphasize, collaboration between dentists and dietitians is essential to provide consistent, evidence-based oral health recommendations.
The role of a dietitian in modern dentistry
A dietitian in a dental office is not just an expert in calorie counting. They are specialists who understand the interrelationships between nutrition, metabolism, immunity, microbiota, and the body's regenerative processes. Their role is not only to educate the patient but also to support the treatment process and improve the overall health of the body and oral cavity, which directly translates into the results of dental treatment.
With their expertise in clinical nutrition, a dietitian can analyze a patient's diet for risk factors and recommend modifications to support oral health. In practice, such collaboration includes:
- nutritional education of patients in the prevention of dental caries,
- preparation of dietary recommendations after extractions and implantological procedures,
- selection of nutrients supporting the osseointegration of implants,
- nutritional interventions to reduce the risk of developing periimplantitis,
- nutritional and supplementary support in the treatment of periodontal diseases,
- diet therapy in systemic diseases (e.g. diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome) that directly affect the inflammation of the gums and periodontium,
- prevention of aphthae and erosions by correcting vitamin and mineral deficiencies,
- nutritional and supplementary support during orthodontic treatment, aimed at proper bone remodeling,
- supplementation and selection of appropriate food during the rehabilitation of temporomandibular joints and masticatory muscles
Including a dietitian in the dental team allows us to look at the patient in a holistic way – not only through the prism of the problem in the oral cavity itself, but also through the prism of the entire body, where nutritional status plays a key role in the healing and regeneration processes. The oral cavity as an element of general health
Oral health is an integral part of overall health. Oral disorders, such as chronic inflammation, affect the immune, vascular, and metabolic systems, among other factors. This relationship is particularly evident in obesity. Both obesity and periodontitis share common risk factors, such as diet and oxidative stress. Studies have shown that dietary interventions can improve both metabolic parameters and periodontal health by reducing proinflammatory cytokine levels and improving the body's immune response.
The Mediterranean diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats, and protein, is particularly noteworthy. It has been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory effects and may support both periodontal health and the fight against obesity (Papathanasiou et al., Pathogens, 2023).
The relationship between diet and oral health is bidirectional: proper nutrition affects the condition of teeth and gums, but inflammation in the oral cavity promotes poor eating habits. For example, people with missing teeth are less likely to consume fruits, meat, legumes, and high-quality oils, and more likely to include saturated fats, alcohol, and simple sugars in their diet (Walls, Gerodontology, 2014). This type of diet not only increases systemic inflammation in the body but also complicates dental treatment.
Dietitian as a member of the dental team
Modern dentistry should be an interdisciplinary field. As Lieffers et al. (Nutrients, 2021) emphasize, dietitians can help break down barriers that prevent effective nutritional education in the dental office. They have the knowledge, time, and communication skills needed to change patients' habits. This puts them in a unique position to promote oral health, complement the effects of dental therapies, and prevent complications resulting from, for example, a pro-inflammatory diet.
Including a dietitian in your team can provide the following benefits:
- greater effectiveness of treatment,
- faster healing time,
- reducing the recurrence of inflammation,
- more effective caries prevention,
- increased patient awareness and greater involvement in therapy,
- better treatment outcomes for patients with systemic diseases,
- more comprehensive interdisciplinary care.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified healthy eating as a priority area for initiating and strengthening oral health programs. This clearly signals that dental care should extend beyond clinical interventions and also include comprehensive nutritional education for patients, led by a dietitian.
Summary
Modern dentistry is not just about technology, advanced equipment, and precise surgical procedures. It also involves multidisciplinary collaboration and attention to biological, environmental, and nutritional factors that influence the health of oral tissues. Therefore, a dietitian should provide real support during dental treatment. In the era of evidence-based medicine and an individualized approach to each patient, the words of Hippocrates, "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food," remain exceptionally relevant – even in modern dentistry.
LITERATURE:
1. Kingsnorth J, Cushen SJ, Janiszewska K, Avery A. Health professionals' knowledge, views and advice on diet and dental health: a survey of UK and Ireland dietitians and dentists. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2021 Aug; 34(4): 705–714. doi: 10.1111/ jhn.12842. Epub 2021 Jan 7. PMID: 33411983.
2. Lieffers JRL, Vanzan AGT, Rover de Mello J, Cammer A. Nutrition Care Practices of Dietitians and Oral Health Professionals for Oral Health Conditions: A Scoping Review. Nutrients. 2021 Oct 13;13 (10): 3588. doi: 10.3390/nu13103588. PMID: 34684589; PMCID: PMC8539677.
3. Moynihan PJ. Dietary advice in dental practice. Br Dent J. 2002 Nov 23;193 (10): 563–8. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4801628. PMID: 12481178.
4. Papathanasiou E, Alreshaid R, Araujo de Godoi M. Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Food Ingredients in Periodontal Diseases. Pathogens. 2023 Mar 27;12 (4): 520. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12040520. PMID: 37111406; PMCID: PMC10142749.
5. Parveen S. Impact of calorie restriction and intermittent fasting on periodontal health. Periodontol 2000. 2021 Oct; 87(1): 315–324. doi: 10.1111/prd.12400. PMID: 34463980.
6. Santonocito S, Polizzi A, Palazzo G, Indelicato F, Isola G. Dietary Factors Affecting the Prevalence and Impact of Periodontal Disease. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent. 2021 Jul 9;13:283–292. doi: 10.2147/CCIDE.S288137. PMID: 34267556; PMCID: PMC8276823.
7. Scardina GA, Messina P. Good oral health and diet. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2012;2012:720692. doi: 10.1155/2012/720692. Epub 2012 Jan 26. PMID: 22363174; PMCID: PMC3272860.
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Author: KAROLINA RYBARSKA
Clinical dietitian, promoter of dental dietetics, member of the Polish Dental Association. Contact for cooperation or training:
Article published in issue 7/2025 of Nowy Gabinet Stomatologiczny magazine. See the full table of contents. Learn more - Nowy Gabinet Stomatologiczny.
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