Parental Awareness of Oral Health and Nutritional Behavior in Children with Congenital Heart Diseases Compared to Healthy Children.

Nelly Schulz-Weidner,Maximiliane Amelie Schlenz,Thushiha Logeswaran,Julia Camilla Bulski,Norbert Krämer

doi:10.3390/ijerph17197057

Nelly Schulz-Weidner, Maximiliane Amelie Schlenz + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197057

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Abstract

Parents of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) seem to underestimate the importance of optimized oral health. The low priority for a good oral hygiene and a healthy diet can be a risk factor for odontogenic bacteremia and infective endocarditis. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the disease awareness and dental knowledge of the parents using a questionnaire. Therefore, parents from 107 children with CHD and a healthy control group (HCG) consisting of 101 children both aged 2 to 6 years were asked to complete a questionnaire containing items about the general health, oral hygiene behavior, preventive measures, dental visits and intake of potential drinks and cariogenic nutrition of their child. The results of the present study show that the CHD group had a poorer oral health behavior than the HCG. Healthy children brushed their teeth significantly more often (65.4%) than the CHD children (45.1%). Only 75% of CHD children used fluorides in their daily life in comparison to 86.6% of the healthy children, 8.7% of their parents neglected completely fluoride supplementation. Of all CHD children 23.1% in comparison to 8.1% of the controls had never visited a dentist before. Furthermore, the daily consumption of cariogenic food and drinks was generally higher in the CHD group. These findings demonstrate a need for improvement in parental knowledge of the efficiency of different measures to improve dental health. This important oral health for CHD children from the early stage of life is obvious, especially regarding their risk for odontogenic bacteria and infective endocarditis.

Highlights

IntroductionChildren with congenital heart defects (CHD) are predisposed to develop oral diseases [1,2,3]
Children with congenital heart defects (CHD) are predisposed to develop oral diseases [1,2,3].Studies have shown increased poor oral hygiene and caries risk in children with CHD
We evaluated the frequency and performance of oral brushing, fluoridation measures for caries prophylaxis, dental care through dental appointments, and consumption of cariogenic potential beverages and foods in CHD children compared to a healthy control group (HCG)

Summary

Introduction

Children with congenital heart defects (CHD) are predisposed to develop oral diseases [1,2,3]. Studies have shown increased poor oral hygiene and caries risk in children with CHD. The prevalence of caries in children with CHD is significantly higher than in healthy children [4,5]. Sivertsen et al found that this impairment of oral health status has systemic dangerous effects in one third of these children, especially episodes of increased bacteremia [3,6]. With regard to possible dental sepsis and the risk of endocarditis, untreated carious teeth should be avoided in children with congenital heart defects [7]. Experience has shown that young patients do not present

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