Effects of Maternal Nutrition on Oral Health in Offspring

According to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) theory, nutritional status in utero can permanently change body structure, function, and metabolism and eventually regulate the susceptibilities toward various diseases in later life. This review aims to examine and summarize the findings of previous reports, revealing how maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation affects oral health in offspring. A limited number of studies have found an evident relationship between maternal nutrition and children’s oral health. Some evidence suggests that maternal nutrients such as sucrose, proteins, minerals, and vitamins are associated with oral and maxillofacial development, including bone and tooth size, and the risk of dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer in offspring. The lessons of DOHaD theory from the perspective of the oral health of offspring reveal how in utero nutrients affect not only oral health but also total health throughout life. Oral disease and dysfunction can be prevented in the next generation by improving maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation periods.