Pediatric medicines and their relationship to dental caries

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate mothers' knowledge about the cariogenic potential of pediatric medicines. A total of 111 mothers were interviewed using a standardized form containing 15 questions relating to the association of pediatric drug use with dental caries and oral hygiene care. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square test and Fisher's exact) were used at a significance of 5%. Most of the mothers were aged 40 years or under (77.4%), high school educated (30.6%) and not working (50.5%). The association between medication use and dental caries or defects in teeth structure was mentioned by 35 (43.2%) mothers, 33 of whom (40.7%) cited this was due to the presence of sugar in the formulations. Only 32 mothers (28.8%) performed oral hygiene for the child after drugs ingestion, although 81.1% (n = 90) had never received guidance on the importance of this practice. The type of occupation and maternal education level were not significant in these issues (p> 0.05). Pediatric medicines can create problems for the teeth and a high percentage of mothers are unable to establish a clear cause and effect relationship with this association. Therefore, the pharmaceutical industry needs to be more aware of this and should prepare pediatric medicines without the presence of sucrose.Uniterms: Pediatric medicine/cariogenic potential. Dental caries/prevention. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar o conhecimento materno sobre o potencial cariogênico de medicamentos infantis. Foram entrevistadas 111 mães por meio de formulário padronizado contendo 15 perguntas relativas à associação do uso de fármacos pediátricos com a cárie dentária e aos cuidados com a higiene bucal. Foi usada a estatística descritiva e inferencial (Qui-quadrado de Pearson e exato de Fischer), com significância de 5%. A maioria das mães tinha até 40 anos (77,4%), ensino médio (30,6%) e não trabalhava (50,5%). A associação entre uso de medicamentos e cárie dental ou defeitos na estrutura dos dentes foi apontada por 35 (43,2%) mães, das quais 33 (40,7%) devido à presença de açúcar nas formulações. Apenas 32 (28,8%) realizavam a higienização bucal da criança após a ingestão de medicamentos; 81,1% (n=90) nunca receberam orientações quanto à importância desta prática. O tipo de ocupação e o grau de escolaridade materno não foram significativos nestas questões (p>0,05). Os medicamentos pediátricos podem trazer problemas para os dentes e alto percentual de mães não consegue estabelecer claramente a relação de causa e efeito existente em tal associação, portanto, é necessária maior conscientização das indústrias farmacêuticas para elaboração de medicamentos pediátricos sem a presença de sacarose.Unitermos Medicamento infantil/potencial cariogênico. Cárie dental/prevenção.

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“…Many of the studies recognized sucrose causes dental defects 5 . Similar studies conducted in Brazil 18 and India 4,19 .…”

“…The deep rooted etiology is the heedless attitude of parents towards oral hygiene practices 18 . These factors can be abrogated by providing a clear guide to the caretakers of the child to practice an ideal oral hygiene measures with the support of pediatrician's and Pedodontist's 19 .…”

Caries prevalence and socioeconomic factors in children with sickle cell anemia

“…An important aspect to consider is that the prolonged use of drugs treating chronic diseases that are sweetened for children can cause harmful dental health effects, influencing caries activity. 4,30 It is noteworthy that 45.0% of the children in the present study were free of caries. The implementation of health promotion strategies appropriate to children with sickle cell anemia is important to obtain significant reductions in dental caries.…”

Comparative Evaluation of the Four most commonly used Pediatric Liquid Formulations in Ahmedabad City: An in vitro Study

“…Dental caries is considered to be one of the most common oral diseases in childhood. 1 In the Indian scenario, over and above the allopathic medications, the medicaments commonly used over the counter as well as by the doctors are the Homeopathic, Ayurvedic, and Unani preparations. On an average, 65% of the population is consuming such preparations among which Homeopathy has 40% and Unani 5%, whereas Ayurvedic consumption is 20%.…”