About this Research Topic
Nearly one in three people in the world did not have adequate access to food in 2020. Since then, global food prices have been rising due to a combination of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, severe weather resulting from global warming, and conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere affecting grain production. Food price inflation is likely to further increase the number of people experiencing food insecurity globally, but particularly in low and middle income countries where the effects of inflation are more acute. Individuals experiencing food insecurity typically replace healthier foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean protein, with more unhealthy options such as processed foods, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates, which can directly contribute to poor health. Food insecurity can indirectly contribute to poor health when individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension experiencing food insecurity skip their medications to buy food. The relationship between food insecurity and oral health is understudied. Children experiencing food insecurity consume more refined carbohydrates, have more dental caries, and brush their teeth less frequently compared to their peers not experiencing food insecurity. Similar findings have been reported among adults living in Korea and the United States. Since food insecurity and oral diseases affect many people of all ages it is timely to explore the relationship between these conditions and understand ways of mitigating adverse health effects.
The aim of this Research Topic is to compile information on the connections between food insecurity and oral health. We encourage submissions of original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, mini-reviews, and perspectives on this topic.
The aim of this Research Topic is to compile information on the connections between food insecurity and oral health. We encourage submissions of original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, mini-reviews, and perspectives on this topic.
Keywords: Food Insecurity, Oral Health, Food shortage, Dental Caries, Diabetes
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
