Chronic malnutrition and oral health status in children aged 1 to 5 years: An observational study

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) 2020-05, Vol.99 (18), p.e19595-e19595
• Main Authors: Vieira, Karlla A., Rosa-Júnior, Laerto S., Souza, Maria A. V., Santos, Natanael B., Florêncio, Telma M. M. T., Bussadori, Sandra K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child Nutrition Disorders - complications; Child Nutrition Disorders - physiopathology; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Caries - epidemiology; Dental Caries - etiology; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Nutritional Status; Observational Study; Oral Health; Prevalence; Saliva - metabolism
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019595

To evaluate the effect of chronic malnutrition on the oral health of children aged 1 to 5 years.An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted and involved 82 children (12-71 months of age). Nutritional status was evaluated using anthropometric indicators and oral health status/caries prevalence was measured. Non-stimulated saliva was collected and flow rate and buffering capacity was measured.The mean dmft index was 1.38 for the adequately nourished children, 3.04 for those with mild malnutrition, 2.5 for those with moderate malnutrition and 2.4 for those with severe malnutrition. 69 of the 82 children had low to very low buffering capacity. No significant differences among the groups were found between malnutrition and age, buffering capacity or the dmft index (P > .05). However, significant differences in salivary flow were found among the different malnutrition categories (P