Iron Deficiency Anemia and Its Oral Manifestation -a Review

Abstract

The oral cavity is the mirror of systemic health. Anemia is one such condition, which manifests itself in the oral cavity. According to the World Health Organization, the normal haemoglobin level for an adult male is around 13.8 g/dl and for an adult woman is around 12.1 g/dl. Anemia is defined as when the haemoglobin level in the blood is below the lower extreme of the normal range for the age and sex of the individual. Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common nutritional deficiency disorder in children and women and is worldwide in distribution. It is characterised by fatigue, weakness, pallor, and koilonychias. Thus, oral physicians play an important role in diagnosis and thereby prevention of anemia, as oral manifestations may be the earliest feature of the condition.