Impact of untreated dental caries on nutritional status in preschool children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20453/reh.v36i1.6527Keywords:
dental caries, nutritional status, preschool children, quality of lifeAbstract
Untreated dental caries causes significant clinical complications, such as infections (pulpitis, ulcers, fistulas, and abscesses) and tooth loss, which deteriorate the preschool child's quality of life at the functional, aesthetic, and psychosocial levels by compromising vital functions such as mastication and speech. This literature review aims to evaluate the relationship between this pathology and nutritional status in this population. A search was conducted up to May 17, 2024, in databases such as PubMed, Biblioteca Virtual en Salud [Virtual Health Library], EBSCOHost, Scopus, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect, following PRISMA guidelines. Out of a total of 484 records, 12 studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected. The analysis of the evidence reveals that untreated dental caries is frequently associated with pain and functional limitations that alter food intake, causing dietary changes and possible nutritional deficiencies that negatively impact the child's overall growth and development.
Downloads
References
Butera A, Maiorani C, Morandini A, et al. Evaluation of children caries risk factors: a narrative review of nutritional aspects, oral hygiene habits, and bacterial alterations. Children. 2022;9(2):262. doi:10.3390/children9020262
Arévalo P, Cuenca K, Vélez E, et al. Estado nutricional y caries de infancia temprana en niños de 0 a 3 años: revisión de la literatura. Odontol Pediatr. 2021;20(1):49-59. Disponible en: doi:10.33738/spo.v20i1.161
Ministerio de Salud (PE). Guía de práctica clínica para la prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la caries dental en niñas y niños [Internet]. Lima: Minsa; 2017. Disponible en: https://cdn.www.gob.pe/uploads/document/file/322902/Guía_de_práctica_clínica_para_la_prevención__diagnóstico_y_tratamiento_de_la_caries_dental_en_niñas_y_niños__Guía_técnica20190621-17253-1sj2h61.pdf?v=1561140245
Lieffers J, Vanzan A, Mello J, et al. Nutrition care practices of dietitians and oral health professionals for oral health conditions: a scoping review. Nutrients. 2021;13(10):3588. doi:10.3390/nu13103588
Vieira K, Rosa-Júnior L, Souza M, et al. Chronic malnutrition and oral health status in children aged 1 to 5 years: an observational study. Medicine. 2020;99(18):e19595. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000019595
Pinos-Calle ME, Mesa-Cano IC, Ramírez-Coronel AA, et al. Estado nutricional en niños menores de 5 años: revisión sistemática. Pro Sci. 2021;5(40):411-25. doi:10.29018/issn.2588-1000vol5iss40.2021pp411-425
Torres LE, Duque JA, Granada J, et al. Anomalías dentales y su relación con la malnutrición en la primera infancia: un análisis crítico de literatura. Rev Nac Odontol. 2015;11(20):65-9. doi:10.16925/od.v11i20.941
Arsad A, Tahir M, Hidayah A, et al. Analysis of relationship between caries index and stunting in preschool children in Indonesia. Multidiscip Sci J. 2024;6(8):e2024148. doi:10.31893/multiscience.2024148
Phogat R, Rani G, Manjunath B, et al. Relationship of anthropometric measurements and nutritional status with early childhood caries among rural preschool children - A cross-sectional analytical study. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent. 2023; 21(4):306-12. doi:10.4103/jiaphd.jiaphd_285_22
Kshetrimayum N, Siluvai S, Chaudhuri P, et al. Nutritional status, prevalence of early childhood caries, and its association among preschool children in Northeast India. Contemp Clin Dent. 2023;14(4):300-6. doi:10.4103/ccd.ccd_290_23
Guapacha MA, Nieto MJ, Loaiza J, et al. Relación entre estado nutricional y salud bucal en un grupo de preescolar en Pereira, Colombia en el período 2022-1. Salud Uninorte. 2023;39(3):987-99. doi:10.14482/sun.39.03.650.452
Olatosi O, Alade A, Naicker T, et al. Dental caries severity and nutritional status of Nigerian preschool children. JDR Clin Trans Res. 2022;7(2):154-62. doi:10.1177/23800844211002108
Cuong DH, Tam VV, Tinh HQ, et al. Research on nutrition, dental caries status using novel methods, and related factors to preschool children in rural areas of Vietnam. J Anal Methods Chem. 2022;2022(1):7363163. doi:10.1155/2022/7363163
Ndekero TS, Carneiro LC, Masumo RM. Prevalence of early childhood caries, risk factors and nutritional status among 3-5-year-old preschool children in Kisarawe, Tanzania. PLoS One. 2021;16(2):e0247240. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0247240
Aung YM, Jelleyman T, Ameratunga S, et al. Body mass index and dental caries in New Zealand pre‐school children: a population‐based study. J Paediatr Child Health. 2021;57(9):1432-7. doi:10.1111/jpc.15500
Fernández CN, Borjas MI, Cambría-Ronda SD, et al. Prevalence and severity of early childhood caries in malnourished children in Mendoza, Argentina. Acta Odontol Latinoam. 2020;33(3):209-15. doi:10.54589/aol.33/3/209
Kim HN, Kwon YB, Lee JH, et al. Impacts of undernutrition and maternal oral health status on dental caries in Korean children aged 3‐5 years. Int J Dent Hyg. 2020;18(4):369-77. doi:10.1111/idh.12460
Parra-Coronel J, Astudillo-Neira D, Ortiz-Ulloa J. Early childhood caries and risk factors in young children of medium-low socioeconomic status, Ecuador. Rev Investig Salud Univ Boyacá. 2020;7(1):52-70. Disponible en: doi:10.24267/23897325.451
Kennedy T, Rodd C, Daymont C, et al. The association of body mass index and severe early childhood caries in young children in Winnipeg, Manitoba: a cross‐sectional study. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2020;30(5):626-33. doi:10.1111/ipd.12629
Rodríguez G, Cabello R, Urzúa I, et al. Association between body mass index and caries lesions in preschool children in Santiago, Chile. Int J Odontostomatol. 2017;11(3):369-75. doi:10.4067/S0718-381X2017000300369
Angelopoulou MV, Beinlich M, Crain A. Early childhood caries and weight status: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatr Dent [Internet]. 2019;41(4):261-70.E24-E25. Disponible en: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aapd/pd/2019/00000041/00000004/art00005;jsessionid=642srh03dns7q.x-ic-live-03#
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Joaquin Ignacio Vallejos Carpio, Maria Elizabeth Cruz Flores, Rosa Josefina Roncal Espinoza, Alfredo Carlos Manuel Rendon Alvarado
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The authors retain the copyright and cede to the journal the right of first publication, with the work registered with the Creative Commons License, which allows third parties to use what is published as long as they mention the authorship of the work, and to the first publication in this journal.
