A new perspective for nutrition: the health connection

The science of nutrition has undergone a major transformation in its objectives and approaches because of the influence of new understanding in epidemiology of oral diseases in technically developed countries, as well as in developing countries with different environmental circumstances. Recent findings of biochemical, immunological, and molecular biology investigations related to oral tissues have also added a new health dimension to this understanding. The major challenge ahead is not only to continue to expand the available scientific information, but to recognize the role that nutrition has for oral tissues, which is no different than the one it has for other tissues and organ systems. Investigators in other fields have been incorporating these new concepts about nutrition in the planning of their research during the past decade, but this emphasis has been lacking in dental research and this needs to be corrected. Still, we have one more challenge ahead, and that is to transfer to the general public the information generated by research in our laboratories and clinics in a prudent and effective way. This will ensure that consumers will take advantage of nutrition information alongside oral health concepts to maintain good general health while preventing and controlling oral diseases. There is much work ahead to be done, but the following papers have already started to set up research guidelines for the future.