# Nutritional Factors Associated with Dental Caries across the Lifespan: A Review
## 3 Results  
The retained articles were categorized thematically into articles related to (1) dietary factors and dental caries; (2) oral health effects of unhealthy diet habits; (3) patient psychology and the role of the dentist in promoting healthy nutrition to support oral health, especially to prevent dental caries (Table 2); (4) newly designed food in the formation of caries; and (5) training of oral healthcare with proper nutritional recommendations. In Table 1, articles focusing on the role of dietary factors and dental caries prevalence are presented according to the age of participants. Figure 1: Prisma flow chart of the study. * Original initial search. ** Excluded by the researchers due to inadequate methodology, outcome measures, sample parameters, and institutionalized patients. *** Eligibility criteria were articles using DMFT diagnostic criteria with calibrated examiners, probability sampling, and sample sizes. Studies were excluded if conducted on institutionalized patients. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Author/(Year)** & **Number of Participants** & **Age Range** & **Gender** & **Methods** & **Results** \\ \hline [PERSON] et al. (2023) [28] & 996 & Children 12–13 years & 498 males and 498 females & Questionnaires for schoolchildren were identified by the frequency of ultra processed food consumption. & Negative relationship between ultra processed meals and fats, fast foods, and noodles and dental caries. \\ [PERSON] et al. (2018) & 4950 & Children 12–15 years & 2377 males and 2573 females & FFQ only for foods and drinks with added sugar, tooth-brushing frequency, and dental attendance, and water-drinking frequency. & The study highlighted the importance of recognizing dental caries patterns by surface, tooth, and child level amongst adolescents and the value of reporting dental caries distribution by threshold in epidemiological surveys. \\ [PERSON] et al. (2022) & 829 & Children 3–18 years & 414 males and 415 females & \\  &  
Many of the studies mention the term \"nutritional status\". It is a comprehensive assessment that encompasses various factors, including the quantity and quality of food consumed, nutrient absorption, metabolism, and the physiological outcomes of these processes. Nutritional status is a dynamic and multifaceted concept that is influenced by both dietary and nondietary factors, such as genetics, health conditions, and socioeconomic factors [34]. The amassed data underscores the pivotal role of the family in shaping individuals' nutritional habits. This influence extends beyond the evident aspect of parents serving as role models for their children. Rather, the family, through its perceptions of nutrition, establishes the fundamental underpinnings of commendable eating habits in early childhood. This early imprinting, in turn, significantly molds the trajectory of children's future nutritional choices and serves as a preventive measure against various diseases, including obesity, caries, and atherosclerosis [36, 37]. Several additional factors contribute to the influence exerted by the family on the dietary preferences of both adults and children. These factors encompass the cultural and ethnic background of the family [38], the parents' awareness of nutrition-related matters [39], their attitudes and health-related habits [40], and the parents' level of education and socioeconomic status [41]. Collectively, these variables converge to form a complex interplay of determinants that collectively shape and perpetuate familial and, consequently, individual dietary patterns. Between the ages of 40 and 70, a discernible reduction in food consumption by 25%, commonly referred to as aging anorexia, is observed [42]. This phenomenon is predominantly orchestrated by hormonal processes that increase satiety levels and physiological decline.