Indicators of oral health in adolescents born with low birth weight
An adverse pregnancy outcome could affect later oral health in infants.
In a study published in Scientific Reports, investigators compared oral and immunologic characteristics — including oral hygiene, gingival inflammation, dental caries status, enamel defects, oral mucosal pH, salivary proteins, oral microbiome components and cytokine levels — between children aged 10 to 13 years born with or without very low birth weight.
Compared with controls, the patients who had very low birth weight were more likely to experience decayed, missing and filled teeth and gingival inflammation. The patients with very low birth weight also had higher plaque indices and interleukin-6 levels as well as lower oral pH and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels. The investigators observed lowered levels of certain types of bacteria, including Fusobacterium nucleatum and Lactobacillus, and total salivary bacteria in the patients who experienced low birth weight.
As a result of the heightened risk of oral health issues among the patients with very low birth weight, the investigators emphasized the need for individualized preventive care strategies and oral health monitoring in this patient population.
Read more: Scientific Reports
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