Faculty of Science

Recently, Dr. Sue Cunningham provided a very insightful presentation on the complex and synergistic relationship between nutrition and oral health. She is a faculty member at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has taught allied health students (dentistry, nutrition and dietetics, and others) for many years. A Registered, Licensed Dietitian, she is board certified as a Diabetes Educator. Having served in the United States Army Medical Specialist Corps, and retiring as a Colonel from the Army Reserves, she has received numerous awards, including the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star.

Multi-disciplinary audience members represented public health, nutrition and dietetics, and dentistry, among others. During her presentation, Sue provided robust evidence of the link between nutrition and oral health throughout the lifespan. For instance, worldwide, tooth decay is considered to be the single most common chronic infectious disease of childhood. Moreover, periodontal or gum disease is prevalent in adulthood, and has been correlated with a host of chronic diseases, as reported in the presentation. Based on these observations, examples of dietary screening, assessment, and guidance as part of standaridized health professional care were examined.