Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods in Human Health and Disease Prevention

Dental caries still remains one of the most common chronic and multifactorial diseases worldwide, although a decline of the prevalence has been recorded in Western countries (Campus et al., 2007, 2009; Marja-Leena et al., 2008; Selwitz et al., 2007). It is the most common cause of tooth loss and pain in the oral cavity (Edelstein, 2006). The disease is the result over time of the interaction among cariogenic microorganisms, a diet rich in fermentable carbohydrates and host factors, like as saliva secretion rate and buffering capacity (Selwitz et al., 2007). A frequent intake of fermentable carbohydrates resulted in significant production of acid. The extent of the pH drop and the longevity of that fall are heavily regulated by saliva.