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The relationship between blood biochemical parameters and oral health in children with obesity/overweight

British Dental Journal volume 235, pages 968–972 (2023)Cite this article

Abstract

Aim The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of obesity and overweight on the oral/dental health and blood biochemistry parameters in children.

Methods A total of 87 children (29 boys, 58 girls) aged 1-18 presenting to our paediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic were included in the study. The patient group consisted of children with obesity/overweight and the control group consisted of children with normal weight. Paediatric patients were examined simultaneously by a paediatrician and a paediatric dentist. Oral/dental health examinations of all children included in the study were performed by a specialist paediatric dentist and dmft/DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) values were calculated separately in the mixed dentition period. The Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs 23 index and the dental plaque 35 index were evaluated at oral/dental health examinations. Oral and dental health examination findings and blood biochemistry parameters were compared between the two groups.

Results While DMFT, dental plaque index, blood c-reactive protein (CRP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were significantly increased in children with overweight/obesity compared to children with normal weight, there was no difference in terms of daily toothbrushing habits and last dental examination times. Overweight/obesity was found to be associated with the dental plaque and DMFT/dmft index, and elevation in the blood biochemistry parameters CRP and PTH among the children in this study.

Conclusion The observation of significant elevation in DMFT and dental plaque indices and numbers of filled deciduous teeth showed that oral/dental health problems and dental decay may emerge more frequently in children with overweight/obesity. Children with overweight should be routinely provided with dental care as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes paediatricians and dentists.

Key points

  • High c-reactive protein and parathyroid hormone values determined in children with obesity/overweight showed that excess weight causes an inflammatory process in the body.

  • High, significant DMFT and dental plaque index scores detected in children with obesity/overweight may be evidence that overweight plays an effective role in dental caries in children.

  • Excessive weight gain in children can cause oral and dental health problems, so necessary precautions should be taken.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Faculty of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey

    Meyri Arzu Yoldaş

  2. Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Ankara Medipol University, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara, Turkey

    Simge Vural Yılmazel

  3. Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Faculty of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey

    Semih Bolu

  4. Department of Paediatric Neurology, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Faculty of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey

    Ayşegül Danış

Authors
  1. Meyri Arzu Yoldaş
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  2. Simge Vural Yılmazel
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  3. Semih Bolu
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  4. Ayşegül Danış
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Contributions

Meyri Arzu Yoldaş had the original idea, contributed for the writing and editing of the manuscript. Simge Vural developed the research work. Semih Bolu and Ayşegül Danış collated and formatted manuscripts and data.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Meyri Arzu Yoldaş.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

The present study was approved by the Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Turkey (approval number: 2021/301). All participants' parents/caregivers provided informed consent at registration.

Data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Arzu Yoldaş, M., Vural Yılmazel, S., Bolu, S. et al. The relationship between blood biochemical parameters and oral health in children with obesity/overweight. Br Dent J 235, 968–972 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-6593-z

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