This project aims to compare the dietary intake of specific nutrients of people with varying numbers of natural teeth and whether chewing ability mediates the relationship between dentition status and nutrient intake.

This research is based on a sub-sample drawn from NSAOH. The aims of this ‘nested’ cross-sectional epidemiological study are to compare the dietary intake of specific nutrients of people with varying number of natural teeth from a representative Australian sample, and to study the relationship between chewing ability and nutritional intake.

The findings of this project would provide valuable Australian data on the relationship between nutrition and dentition status, which would facilitate estimates of how tooth loss influences diet and impacts on nutritional intake, and relates to general heath and diet-related diseases.

Project coordinator: Dr Kiran A Singh