Oral health in pre‐school children with asthma – followed from 3 to 6 years

Abstract

Objective. The aim of the present study was to investigate caries and its determinants in preschool children with and without asthma, followed from 3 to 6 years.Methods and subjects. Caries, plaque and gingivitis were examined at 3 and 6 years of age in 64 asthmatic children and 50 matched, healthy control children. Furthermore, at 6 years radiographic examination and saliva sampling were conducted. The parents were interviewed about various oral health-related factors. Results. Initial caries increment between 3 and 6 years of age was statistically significant higher for children with asthma compared to children without asthma (P < 0.05). Asthmatic children had more bleeding gingivitis and a higher consumption of sugary drinks than healthy children at 3 years of age (P < 0.05). At both 3 and 6 years of age, the asthmatic children were more frequently mouth breathers than healthy children, only statistically significant for 6 year olds (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Preschool children with asthma at 3 years of age run a higher risk of developing caries lesions until 6 years of age compared with children without asthma. Children with asthma have a higher prevalence of bleeding gingivitis, a higher intake of sugary drinks and are more frequently mouth breathers than preschool children without asthma.

Caries Prevalence, Caries-Related Factors and Plaque pH in Adolescents with Long-Term Asthma

“…The caries prevalence in this study was 3 times higher in the asthma group than the control group. This is in agreement with previous studies, which found a correlation between increased caries prevalence and asthma [Reddy et al, 2003;Stensson et al, 2008Stensson et al, , 2010Mehta et al, 2009a, b]. A Danish study showed no increased risk of dental caries in the deciduous teeth in children with asthma, while an increased risk was found in the newly erupted permanent teeth [Wogelius et al, 2004].…”

“…whether there is a relationship between the asthmatic condition and oral health or whether oral health is affected by the disease or by the drug, is difficult to answer in the present study. In studies of asthmatic preschool children, it has been concluded that it was not the disease per se that caused a higher caries prevalence, but rather caries-related factors, such as frequent mouth-breathing and higher consumption of sugary drinks [Stensson et al, 2008[Stensson et al, , 2010. This trend could also be found in the present study, where adolescents with asthma reported both more frequent mouthbreathing and higher intake of sugary drinks, even if the difference was not statistically significant.…”

“…Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel Since both dental caries and asthma are multifactorial diseases, it is of interest to evaluate the association between these two diseases. Most researchers have found a correlation between asthma on one hand and caries and gingivitis on the other in children and adolescents [McDerra et al, 1998;Mazzoleni et al, 2008;Stensson et al, 2008Stensson et al, , 2010. The duration of medication and the severity of the disease have been found to increase the risk for caries development [Ersin et al, 2006].…”

Oral health in young adults with long-term, controlled asthma

“…It appears that the oral health of asthmatics is affected in different age groups, from early childhood to young adulthood. In recent studies by our research group, investigating the oral health of younger asthmatics, it was concluded that it was not the disease per se that caused a higher caries prevalence but rather caries-related factors, such as a lower salivary secretion rate, frequent mouthbreathing and a higher consumption of sugary drinks [8,9]. This is in line with the present study, including the same caries-related factors.…”

“…The majority of these reports found that both children and adolescents with asthma run a greater risk of dental caries and/or gingival inflammation than healthy controls [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. This impaired oral health may result in a foundation for further caries development and periodontal diseases later in life.…”