Abstract
Dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease. Recent studies have suggested that dental caries harbor respiratory infections in adults. We investigated the association between dental caries and influenza in children. In this study, 42,812 children aged 2.5 years, 38,540 children aged 5.5 years, and 34,124 children aged 10 years were included in the analysis from the Longitudinal Survey of Newborns in the 21st Century in Japan, which targeted all children born during a certain period in 2001. We used information on dental caries treated at hospitals and clinics in the past year as exposure and influenza as outcome during the observation periods (1.5–2.5, 4.5–5.5, and 9–10 years of age). We performed a log-binomial regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounders, and stratified analysis according to previous dental caries status. The presence of dental caries increased the incidence of influenza in all three target ages compared with the absence of dental caries. The incidence of influenza increased with the presence of current dental caries, regardless of the presence of past dental caries. These associations were observed irrespective of household income. Early detection and treatment of dental caries may reduce the risk of influenza in children.
Highlights
Oral health is fundamental to overall health, well-being, and quality of life [1]
Detection and treatment of dental caries may reduce the risk of influenza in children
We investigated the association between dental caries and influenza using a large nationwide birth cohort in Japan
Summary
Oral health is fundamental to overall health, well-being, and quality of life [1]. According to the 2019 Global Burden of Diseases study, caries of the permanent teeth was the most prevalent disease (affecting 2.0 billion people worldwide) and caries of the deciduous teeth was the 18th most prevalent disease (affecting 530 million children worldwide) in all ages combined [2]. Dental caries is associated with negative child and family experiences and lower quality of life for the child and their caregivers [3,4]. There is fair evidence of an association of respiratory infection, especially pneumonia, with oral health, in elderly adults [7,8]. Dental caries increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infections [9]. In the field of pediatrics, few studies have focused on the association of respiratory infection with dental caries and there have been even fewer studies on the association of dental caries with increased risk of influenza infection. We investigated the association between dental caries and influenza using a large nationwide birth cohort in Japan. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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