Nutritional Counseling in Pediatric Dentistry: A Comprehensive Review of Diet Diaries
Anugya Jain, Nikhil MarwahBackground
Diet plays a crucial role in the development and progression of dental caries in children. Frequent consumption of fermentable carbohydrates, particularly sugars, is strongly associated with increased caries risk. Nutritional counseling and dietary assessment are therefore important components of preventive pediatric dentistry. Diet diaries are commonly used to identify cariogenic dietary habits, monitor dietary behavior, and facilitate individualized dietary interventions.
Aim
To review the role of nutritional counseling and diet diaries in pediatric dentistry, discuss various dietary assessment methods used for caries prevention and evaluate the clinical relevance of culturally adapted dietary tools such as “What’s on My Plate? Simplified Diet for Indian Kids.”
Review Methodology
A narrative review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Relevant studies published between January 2020 and December 2025 were identified using keywords including “diet diary,” “food diary,” “dietary assessment,” “nutritional counseling,” “pediatric dentistry,” “children,” and “dental caries.” Additional relevant references were identified through manual screening of reference lists. Articles discussing dietary assessment methods, nutritional counseling, and their applications in pediatric oral health were included.
Conclusion
Diet diaries remain valuable adjuncts in caries risk assessment and nutritional counseling in pediatric dentistry. When combined with professional guidance, they support behavior modification and healthier dietary practices. Culturally adapted tools such as “What’s on My Plate?” may improve patient engagement and practical implementation of dietary advice; however, further validation studies are required to establish their effectiveness and long-term impact on oral health outcomes.