Learning Objectives

• Identify specific vitamins and nutrients that feed a healthy mouth
• Understand the dimensions of antimicrobials and their alterations to the microbiome
• Recognize the gingival inflammatory process and how it feeds pathogenic features of the oral microbiome
• Distinguish specific oral hygiene ingredients that may hinder or help difficult cases

Victor Lindlahr's 1930 adage " You are what you eat," underscores the direct influence of diet on health, including oral wellness. Modern diets, rich in fats and sugars, alongside environmental and societal stressors, contribute to oral dysbiosis. The imbalance in the oral microbiome can lead to decreased microbial diversity and the proliferation of pathogenic microbes, often resulting in periodontal disease or caries. This presentation explores the interplay between nutrition and oral health, focusing on strategies that oral healthcare providers can use to monitor and adjust systemic and periodontal health factors. Participants will learn how to utilize nutrients, xylitol, probiotics, antimicrobials, and essential oils with a strong focus on the influence of nitric oxide in the oral cavity and beyond. By understanding the dynamics of our delicate oral ecosystem and the factors that affect microbiome-host interactions, clinicians can enhance their approach to complex patient cases, improving outcomes in oral health.