Nutritional and Biochemical Foundations for Dental Hygienists

Catalog description

This course examines macronutrients and micronutrients and their effects on the oral cavity as applied to the practice of dentistry. Topics include the basic principles of nutrition, nutritional and biochemical aspects of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and water. The course covers understanding and evaluating food labels and the MyPlate guidelines, nutritional counseling, nutritional excesses and deficiencies, and the impact of herbal supplements and alternative therapies on the body and oral cavity. Additionally, it addresses nutritional needs at various stages of the human lifecycle. The goal is to understand how to assist patients in making informed nutritional choices related to their oral health. This course contains theory, lab and clinical components.