Abstract
Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a condition where one or more primary dentition are found to have caries or have fallen out and are filled due to caries in children up to 71 months of age. Children with obesity are reported to have higher risk of developing caries, which is due to oral microflora and salivary property modifications. Risk factor of obesity, i.e. high sugar intake, is known to also take part on caries development in children. This study is aimed to estimate the relationship between obesity and early childhood caries in children under the age of 71 months.
Subjects and Method: A meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies published from 2008 to 2022 was conducted using the PICO model. Population= children up to 71 months of age. Intrvention= obese or overweight. Comparison= nomal weight. Outcome= early childhood caries. The articles included in this study were sourced from PubMed and the Cochrane Library databases. The search utilized keywords such as ((obesity OR overweight) AND (caries OR "early childhood caries") AND "cross-sectional"). Selected articles were extracted and analyzed using Revman 5.4.1.
Results: A total of 8 cross-sectional studies from New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, United States, Mexico, and Brazil were selected for meta-analysis. Total sample was 102,345 children. Child obesity significantly increased the risk of early childhood caries (aOR= 1.32; 95% CI= 1.03 to 1.69; p= 0.030). Funnel plot indicates no publication bias.
Conclusion: Child obesity significantly increases the risk of early childhood caries.
Keywords: obesity, overweight, early childhood caries, children
Article Data
References
Alshihri AA, Rogers HJ, Alqahtani MA, Aldossary MS (2019). Association between dental caries and obesity in children and young people: A narrative review. Int J Den. 9105759. https:-//doi.org/10.1155/2019/9105759
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (2023). Policy on Early Childhood Caries (ECC): Consequences and preventive strategies. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, III: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 88 – 91.
Arab S, Malekshah SN, Mehrizi EA, Khanghah AE, Naseh R, Imani MM (2016). Effect of fixed orthodontic treatment on salivary flow, pH and microbial count. J Den. 13(1): 18 – 22.
Aung YM, Jelleyman T, Ameratunga S, Tin TS (2021). Body mass index and dental caries in New Zealand pre-school children: A population-based study. J Paediatr Child Health, 57(9): 1432–1437. https://doi.org/10.1111/jp-c.15500.
Bajwa DHA, Muzaffar E, Shahzad S, Gul B, Shan T, Azam HM (2024). Impact of sugar consumption on oral health and tooth decay. J Populat Ther Clin Pharm. 322–329. https://doi.org/10.53555/j-ptcp.v31i2.4353.
Costa LR, Daher A, Queiroz MG (2013). Early childhood caries and body mass index in young children from low-income families. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 10(3): 867–878. https:-//doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10030867.
Davies GM, Copley V, Neville JS (2020). Associations between caries levels and BMI measures among five-year-old children. Analysis and cross-sectional multi-variable analysis at individual child level. Community Dental Health. 37(2): 115–120. https://doi.org/10.1922/CDH_4631Davies06.
Hatipoǧlu O, Maraş E, Hatipoǧlu FP, Saygin AG (2022). Salivary flow rate, pH, and buffer capacity in the individuals with obesity and overweight; A meta-analysis. Nigerian J Clin Prac. 25(7): 1126–1142. https://doi.org/10.-4103/njcp.njcp_1760_21
Hong L, Ahmed A, McCunniff M, Overman P, Mathew M (2008). Obesity and dental caries in children aged 2-6 years in the United States: National health and nutrition examination survey 1999-2002. J Public Health Den. 68(4): 227–233. https://-doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-7325.200-8.00083.x
Hung H, van Ngoc VTN, Thi HV, Chu DT (2021). Early childhood caries in obese children: The status and associated factors in the suburban areas in Hanoi, Vietnam. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 18(16). https://-doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168844.
Leme LAFP, Rizzardi KF, Parisotto TM, Santos IB (2022). Exploring the Relationship between Salivary Levels of TNF-α, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Obesity, and Caries in Early Childhood. Pathogens, 11(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/-pathogens11050579.
Mohamed RN, Basha S, Al-Thomali Y, AlZahrani FS, Ashour AA, Almu-tair NE (2022). Association between early childhood caries and obesity among preschool children. Oral Health Prev Den. 20(1): 113–118. https://doi.org/-10.3290/j.ohpd.b2805445
Oliveira LB, Sheiham A, Bçnecker M (2008). Exploring the association of dental caries with social factors and nutritional status in Brazilian preschool children. Eur J Oral Sci. 116: 37 – 43. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0722.2007.00507.x.
Sahoo K, Sahoo B, Choudhury AK, Sofi NY, Kumar R, Bhadoria AS (2015). Childhood obesity: causes and consequences. J Fam Med Primary Care, 4(2): 187–192. https://doi.org/10.4103/22-49-4863.154628.
Vázquez-Nava F, Vázquez-Rodríguez EM, Saldívar-González AH, Lin-Ochoa D, Martínez-Perales GM, Joffre-Velázquez VM (2010). Association between obesity and dental caries in a group of pre-school children in Mexico. J Public Health Den. 70(2): 124–130. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.17-52-7325.2009.00152.x
World Health Organization (WHO). (2016). 10 Facts on obesity. Re-trieved from https://www.who.-int/features/factfiles/obesity/facts/en/.
Wyllie R, Hyams JS, Kay M (2016). Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. Elsevier.
