Kids with asthma have more caries, gingivitis

Jan 2, 2011

Children and adolescents with asthma have somewhat more caries and suffer more often from gingivitis than people of similar age without asthma, according to a thesis presented and successfully defended at the Sahlgrenska Academy, part of the University of Gothenburg.

Malin Stensson, dental hygienist and researcher in the department of cariology at Sahlgrenska's Institute of Odontology, conducted four separate studies involving children, adolescents, and young adults with and without asthma.

In Study I, a group of 3-year-old (n = 66) and 6-year-old children (n = 61) with asthma and two healthy control groups (n = 62 and n = 55, respectively) participated. That study revealed that 3-year-olds who suffer from asthma have more caries than 3-year-olds without asthma.

"The children with asthma had a greater tendency to breathe through the mouth; they became dry in the mouth and were therefore given sugary drinks more often. This may have contributed to them developing higher caries prevalence," Stensson said in a press release.

In Study II, 3-year-old children with asthma (n = 64) and a healthy control group (n = 50) were followed from 3 to 6 years of age. It became clear that the 3-year-olds with asthma subsequently developed more caries than children without asthma, according to Stensson.

In Study III, adolescents ages 12-16 years with severe and long-term asthma (n = 20) and a healthy control group (n = 20) were included.

"Only 1 out of 20 in the asthma group was caries-free, while 13 out of 20 were caries-free in the control group," Stensson said. One factor that may have influenced the development of caries is somewhat lower level of saliva secretion, which was probably caused by the medication taken by those with asthma, she noted. Adolescents with asthma also suffered more often from gingivitis than those without asthma, she added.

In Study IV, young adults ages 18-24 years with long-term asthma (n = 20) and a healthy control group (n = 20) participated. The results from this age group were nearly identical with those in the group of 12- to 16-year-olds, although the differences between those with asthma and those without were not as large, according to Stensson.

While the numbers of participants in the studies were relatively small, making it difficult to generalize the results, it is interesting that young people with asthma have more caries than those without asthma, even for these participants who come from an area with relatively good oral health, she noted.

"The study is particularly reliable because the groups are homogenous with respect to age and area of residence," Stensson said. "Further, the participants with asthma had all been accurately diagnosed by a specialist. One of the studies is longitudinal, and this gives extra strength to the results."