International Journal of Health Sciences & Research (www.ijhsr.org) 484 Vol.6; Issue: 1; January 2016 International Journal of Health Sciences and Research www.ijhsr.org ISSN: 2249-9571 Review Article Caries Prevention: Vitamin Way - A Novel Approach Vanishree T 1 , Ganesh Shenoy Panchmal 2 , Rekha P Shenoy 3 , Praveen Jodalli 3 , Laxminarayan Sonde 4 1 Post Graduate Student, 2 Senior Professor and Head, 3 Reader, 4 Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Yenepoya Dental College, Yenepoya University, University Road, Deralakatte, Mangalore - 575018, Karnataka, India. Corresponding Author: Vanishree T Received: 14/12/2015 Revised: 23/12/2015 Accepted: 24/12/2015 ABSTRACT Dental caries is a unique multifactorial infectious disease and is the predominant cause of tooth loss in children and young. It is a diet-dependent infectious disease primarily attributed to the presence of oral bacteria. Nutrients play an important regulatory role in preserving health of the human body and of all metabolically active tissues. Micronutrients, vitamins and antioxidants play an essential role for constant regenerative processes, for coping with oxidative stress, and also for adequate immune responses. Undernutrition or malnutrition concerning certain food components can lead to defects of the dental hard tissues, the oral mucosa and the periodontium. Deficiency in Vitamin D during periods of tooth development may result in developmental defects like enamel hypoplasia, a significant risk factor for severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). Research shows that vitamin K2 and vitamin D together result in a far greater reduction of tooth decay than does either vitamin alone. Sound nutritional habits and a sufficient supply of essential vitamins and minerals are of considerable importance for oral health. Keywords: Dental Caries, Early Childhood Caries, Nutrition, Vitamins. INTRODUCTION Dental caries is the most prevalent chronic disease affecting the human race. In many ways it can be considered a disease of modern times as the occurrence of caries seems to be much higher in the last few generations. (1) There is localized destruction of susceptible dental hard tissue by acidic by products from bacterial fermentation of dietary carbohydrates. (2) Thus it is a bacterial driven, generally chronic, site specific, multifactorial dynamic disease process that results from imbalance in the physiologic equilibrium between the tooth mineral and plaque fluid; that is when the pH drop results in net mineral loss over time. (3) The term dental caries is used to describe the results-the signs and symptoms of a localized chemical dissolution of the tooth surface caused by metabolic events taking place in the bio film covering the affected area destroying enamel, dentin, cementum. The lesions may manifest clinically in a variety of ways. (4) There are practically no geographic areas in the world whose inhabitants do not exhibit some evidence of dental caries. It affects persons of both sexes, in all races, all socioeconomic strata and in