Nutrition, tooth development, and dental caries

Abstract

Many studies involving small animals have clearly shown that malnutrition affects tooth formation and causes increased dental caries. We have conducted two cross-sectional studies and one longitudinal study among Peruvian children to investigate the effect of early malnutrition on oral health. The cross-sectional studies have shown that in malnourished children the pattern of caries development as a function of age is significantly altered as a result of a delayed eruption and exfoliation of the deciduous teeth. This phenomenon has made difficult the observation by other scientists of a clear effect of nutritional status on total caries experience because the comparison of age-adjusted caries data between populations of children with different nutritional status is inappropriate. The use of peak caries activity has allowed the observation of a strong association between malnutrition and increased dental caries. The longitudinal study has confirmed the results of the cross-sectional studies and has demonstrated that one mild to moderate malnutrition episode occurring during the first year of life is associated with increased caries in both the deciduous and permanent teeth many years later.

A Study on Nutritional Status and Dental Caries in Permanent Teeth among School Going Girl of Bengalee Population, India

“…The use of peak caries activity has allowed the observation of a strong association between malnutrition and increased dental caries (Alvarez, 1995). It was found that chronic malnutrition vis a vis under nutrition reduced the secretion rate of stimulated saliva, but not that of unstimulated saliva.…”

“…Similarly, poor nutrition affects tooth eruption and outcome demonstrated delayed emergence of the deciduous teeth. There appears to be a physiological association between skeletal growth and tooth eruption (Barrett & Brown, 1966;Mukherjee, 1973;RamiReddy et al, 1986;Banerjee et al, 1992;Alvarez, 1995;Chiu et al, 2012). A change in the pattern of tooth eruption should result in a concomitant change in the age distribution of dental caries in the primary teeth.…”

Correlation Between Malnutrition and Dental Caries in Children

“…A strong correlation was observed between the degree of linear enamel hypoplasia and caries experience in the deciduous teeth of undernourished Guatemalan children 9 . Notably, malnutrition (wasting or stunting)…”

Desnutrição energético-protéica e cárie dentária na primeira infância

“…Infante 21 ; verificaram que a desnutrição retarda a cronologia de erupção dentária, o que implica dizer que crianças desnutridas têm seus dentes expostos ao meio bucal mais tardiamente. Segundo Alvarez 22 , este atraso de erupção alteraria o padrão de desenvolvimento da cárie dentária, uma vez que a colonização da cavidade oral por Estreptococos do Grupo Mutans (EGM) ocorre após a erupção do primeiro dente. Isto porque se faz necessária a presença de uma superfície que permita a organização de um biofilme cariogênico 23 .…”

“…O estudo de 209 crianças peruanas confirmou que existe uma relação de causa e efeito entre desnutrição precoce e aumento de cárie dentária 20 . Em 1995, Alvarez 22 relatou que um único episódio de desnutrição leve ou moderada no primeiro ano de vida possui a capacidade de aumentar a manifestação da cárie dentária tanto na dentição decídua, como anos depois na dentição permanente.…”