Functional Foods and its Role in Improving Oral Health

Functional foods are foods or dietary components that may provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition. Biologically active components in functional foods may impart health benefits or desirable physiological effects. Oral diseases are lifestyle related and diet plays a major role. Various foods are found to have role in improving oral health. In this article the most explored functional foods like tea, grapes, coffee, garlic and its role in oral health are discussed. Tea (Camellia sinensis) and is the most popular beverage consumed by human society worldwide, second only to water. Tea has anti-cariogenic potential by inhibiting biofilm formation, acid production and also studies have shown tea has a preventive effect on periodontal disease. Garlic is known for its medicinal property all over the world, it prevents dental caries, periodontal disease. as well as shown positive results in the treatment of Candiidasis. Coffee is another beverage which has preventive effects on dental caries and oral cancer. Grapes are another such functional food which has preventive effects on dental caries, periodontal disease, as well as remineralization potential. These functional foods lack sound evidence to be recommended as part of health care. The people consuming these foods must realize that functional foods are not a “magic bullet” or a panacea for poor health habits. Functional foods can become part of an effective strategy to maximize health and reduce disease risk by addressing all these issues.