Functional foods and oral health

'Functional foods' are foods or dietary components that have a beneficial effect on one or more target functions in the body beyond basic nutrition. Food is classified as any substance or product, whether processed or not, that is ingested by humans; thus it includes solids, including chewing-gum, and liquids. Common oral conditions could benefit substantially from the development of functional foods. The findings of research on foods containing minerals, animal products and plant products are considered in terms of their beneficial effects on caries, periodontal disease, tooth wear and oral mucosal disease. International regulation of functional food is also considered.