Nutrition
Tooth loss, dentures, and decreased saliva can lead to alteration in diet. Elders may experience the following:
- Changed sensory perception of eating (texture and taste)
- Lowered chewing efficiency
- Decreased intake of important nutrients
- Less fresh fruit, vegetables, and fiber in the diet
- Less Vitamin C and beta carotene
- Compensatory habits such as sucking mints or consuming sweetened beverages to mitigate dry mouth, which may result in:
- "Empty calories"
- Increased caries risk
Soft Diet
Robert Henry, DMD, MPH
Fruits, Vegetables and Whole Grains
Michelle Wrightson, MD
References
Nowjack-Raymer RE, Sheiham A. Association of Edentulism and Diet and Nutrition in US Adults. Journal of Dental Research 2003; 82:123-126.
Tsakos G, et al. Edentulism and Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Low income Adults. Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89(5):462-467.
Moynihan PJ. The Relationship Between Nutrition and Systemic and Oral Well-being in Older People. Journal of the American Dental Association 2007; 138(4):493-497.