Dental caries as a common dental disease: prevalence and association with gastrointestinal pathology in children (a literature review)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14739/2310-1210.2025.2.322095Keywords:
dental caries, enamel resistance, children, gastrointestinal diseasesAbstract
Dental caries is the most widespread dental disease, with a prevalence among the pediatric population worldwide ranging from 39.6 % to 75.43 %, and an intensity of 0.89–3.40 teeth. In Ukraine, the prevalence of dental caries varies from 42 % to 96 %, with an intensity of carious lesions ranging from 0.07 to 6.50 teeth. Higher rates of dental caries have been observed in children with somatic diseases, which contribute to the formation of deficient dental hard tissue structure, reduced enamel resistance, and favorable conditions for caries development.
The aim of the study: to examine and analyze the data on the prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth in children with chronic gastrointestinal tract (GIT) diseases based on Ukrainian and foreign scientific research.
Materials and methods. The bibliosemantic method was applied to study the issue of dental hard tissue diseases in children with GIT disorders. Results of Ukrainian and foreign studies from available electronic resources such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for the period 1990–2024 were analyzed.
Results. A review of thematic scientific sources indicates on increasing in the prevalence of GIT diseases among children of different ages, with a clear trend toward the “rejuvenation” of these diseases globally and in Ukraine particularly. Significantly higher rates of dental caries were identified in children with these somatic pathologies compared to healthy children, with a predominance of subcompensated and decompensated forms, complicated caries, and reduced enamel. Diverse perspectives were observed regarding the impact of H. pylori on the formation of dental caries. In addition to caries, enamel hypoplasia and erosion of dental hard tissues were noted in children with GIT diseases.
Conclusions. According to the literature, there is a trend of GIT disease increasing prevalence among the pediatric population in Ukraine, especially among children under one year old (an increase of 13.0 %) and adolescents (an increase of 73.7 %). In children with GIT disorders, the prevalence of dental caries, as reported in the literature, ranges from 61.54 % to 100.00 %, with an intensity of 3.31 to 8.96 teeth. Contradictory data regarding the relationship between GIT diseases and dental caries, including the influence of H. pylori on the formation of caries-susceptible enamel, underscores the relevance and importance of further research on this issue.
References
Global oral health status report: towards universal health coverage for oral health by 2030: summary of the WHO European Region [Internet]. Who.int. World Health Organization; 2023 [cited 2025 Feb 12]. Available from: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289058988
Kaushik M, Tuli A, Sood S. Reconnoitering the Dental Knowledge and Attitude of Pediatricians in the Western Uttar Pradesh Region of India. Cureus. 2024;16(5):e60024. doi: 10.7759/cureus.60024
Krol DM, Whelan K; SECTION ON ORAL HEALTH. Maintaining and Improving the Oral Health of Young Children. Pediatrics. 2023;151(1):e2022060417. doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-060417
Qadir Khan S, Alzayer HA, Alameer ST, Ajmal Khan M, Khan N, AlQuorain H, et al. SEQUEL: Prevalence of dental caries in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review and Meta-analysis. Saudi Dent J. 2024;36(7):963-9. doi: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2024.04.011
Alanzi A, Hajiah S, Faridoun A, Alterkait A. Oral Health Knowledge and Experience of Pediatricians and Pediatric Residents in Kuwait: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey Study. Int J Dent. 2022;2022:2339540. doi: 10.1155/2022/2339540
Levine RS. Childhood caries and hospital admissions in England: a reflection on preventive strategies. Br Dent J. 2021;230(9):611-6. doi: 10.1038/s41415-021-2945-8
Obregón-Rodríguez N, Fernández-Riveiro P, Piñeiro-Lamas M, Smyth-Chamosa E, Montes-Martínez A, Suárez-Cunqueiro MM. Prevalence and caries-related risk factors in schoolchildren of 12- and 15-year-old: a cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health. 2019;19(1):120. doi: 10.1186/s12903-019-0806-5
Trubka I, Udod O, Savychuk N, Korniienko L, Ermakova L, Dramaretska S, et al. [Caries of teeth and state of gum in school-age children from different regions of Ukraine]. Suchasna medytsyna, farmatsiia ta psykholohichne zdorovia. 2023;(2):49-55. Ukrainian. doi: 10.32689/2663-0672-2023-2
Lesytskiy MY, Kysil AR. [Prevalence of dental caries of the permanent teeth in children with malocclusion]. Innovation in stomatology. 2024;(1):78-84. Ukrainian. doi: 10.35220/2523-420X/2024.1.11
Proshchenko N, Sorochenko H, Ostapko O, Plyska O, Trokhimets Y. [Complicated caries of permanent teeth in children: status of the problem and modern solution ways]. Medicni perspektivi. 2023;28(3):128-36. Ukrainian. doi: 10.26641/2307-0404.2023.3.289211
Duda KM, Lebid OI. [The prevalence of dental diseases among children aged 6 to 9 years]. Klinichna stomatolohiia. 2019;(1):48-51. Ukrainian. Available from: https://ojs.tdmu.edu.ua/index.php/kl-stomat/article/view/10147
Yanchuk AO, Skiba VY, Katerinchuk IP, Kuznichenko SO, Skiba OV. [Epidemiological study and monitoring of dental morbidity in children of Ukraine]. World of medicine and biology. 2019;(2):154-8. Ukrainian. doi: 10.26724/2079-8334-2019-2-68-154-158
Kaskova LF, Mandziuk TB, Ulasevych LP, Andriyanova ОY, Yanko NV. [Comparative characteristics of caries indices in children of different school age]. Bukovinian medical herald. 2019;23(2):10-5. Ukrainian. doi: 10.24061/2413-0737.XXIII.2.90.2019.27
Chukhray NL, Leshchuk SE. [Estimation of dental hard tissues state in children with asthma in the context of who index – significant index of caries. stomatological]. 2021;107(2):54-7. Ukrainian. doi: 10.35220/2078-8916-2019-32-2-54-57
Bodnaruk N, Smolyar N, Chukhray N, Mashkarinets O, Gan I. [Аssociation between incidence of caries of temporary teeth and pathology of the musculoskeletal system in preschool children, considering biochemical markers of connective tissue metabolism]. Medicni perspektivi. 2022;27(2):138-45. Ukrainian. doi: 10.26641/2307-0404.2022.2.260290
Chukhray N, Savchyn S. [Oral health status of chaldren with infectious mononucleosis in the past medical history]. Ukrainian Dental Almanac. 2023;(3):85-90. Ukrainian. doi: 10.31718/2409-0255.3.2023.14
Poberezhna HM, Kulygina VM, Gadzhula NG, Povsheniuk AV, Gorai MA, Kurdysh LF. [Dental diseases in patients with pathology of the gastrointestinal tract: a literature review]. Reports of Vinnytsia National Medical University. 2023;27(2):323-30. Ukrainian. doi: 10.31393/reports-vnmedical-2023-27(2)-25
Cicekci AV, Demir AD, Bakkal M. Diagnosing celiac disease in children using oral manifestations. BMC Gastroenterol. 2024;24(1):332. doi: 10.1186/s12876-024-03431-4
Elbek-Cubukcu C, Arsoy HA, Ozkaya G. Assessment of oral manifestations in pediatric patients with celiac disease in relation to marsh types. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2023;28(1):e9-e15. doi: 10.4317/medoral.25490
Pryimak KV, Zoriy IA, Bidenko NV. [Stomatological status in children with cerebral palsy]. Terapevtyka. 2022;3(1):35-40. doi: 10.31793/2709-7404.2022.3-1.35
Cui S, Akhter R, Yao D, Peng XY, Feghali MA, Chen W, et al. Risk Factors for Dental Caries Experience in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy-A Scoping Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(13):8024. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19138024
de Oliveira TN, Drumond VZ, de Arruda JA, Pani SC, Vargas-Ferreira F, Eustachio RR, et al. Dental caries and developmental defects of enamel in cerebral palsy: A meta-analysis. Oral Dis. 2024;30(6):3828-37. doi: 10.1111/odi.14957
Inchingolo F, Inchingolo AM, Inchingolo AD, Fatone MC, Ferrante L, Avantario P, et al. Bidirectional Association between Periodontitis and Thyroid Disease: A Scoping Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024;21(7):860. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21070860
Gil EG, Åstrøm AN, Lie SA, Rygg M, Fischer J, Rosén A, et al. Dental caries in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and controls: a multilevel analysis. BMC Oral Health. 2021;21(1):417. doi: 10.1186/s12903-021-01758-y
Schädlich P, Symmank J, Dost A, Jacobs C, Wagner Y. Oral Health of Children and Adolescents with Diabetes Mellitus. J Clin Med. 2024;13(22):6742. doi: 10.3390/jcm13226742
Faé DS, de Aquino SN, Verner FS, Lemos CA. Dental caries in HIV-infected children and adolescents: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Oral Dis. 2024;30(4):1756-64. doi: 10.1111/odi.14637
Uerlich MF, Baker SR, Day PF, Brown L, Vettore MV. Common Determinants of Dental Caries and Obesity in Children: A Multi-Ethnic Nested Birth Cohort Study in the United Kingdom. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(23):12561. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182312561
Chukhray N, Mashkarynets O, Lysak T, Bodnaruk N, Lysak M. [Dental status of children on the background of somatic pathology (literature review)]. Via Stomatologiae. 2024;1(2):5-15. Ukrainian. doi: 10.32782/3041-1394.2024-2.1
Levine RS. Childhood caries and hospital admissions in England: a reflection on preventive strategies. Br Dent J. 2021;230(9):611-6. doi: 10.1038/s41415-021-2945-8
Kryvych IP, Chumak YY, Gusieva HM. [Modern state of the health of the population in Ukraine]. Dovkillia ta zdorovia. 2021;(3):4-12. Ukrainian. doi: 10.32402/dovkil2021.03.004
Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Shchorichna dopovid pro stan zdorovia naselennia, sanitarno-epidemichnu sytuatsiiu ta rezultaty diialnosti systemy okhorony zdorovia Ukrainy. 2017 rik [Annual report on the state of health of the population, the sanitary and epidemiological situation and the results of the activities of the healthcare system of Ukraine. 2017]. Kyiv: Medinform; 2018. Ukrainian.
Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Shchorichnyi zvit pro stan zdorovia naselennia Ukrainy ta epidemichnu sytuatsiiu za 2022 rik [Annual report on the state of health of the population of Ukraine and the epidemic situation for 2022]. Kyiv; 2023. Ukrainian.
Voloshyn K, Kovalivska S, Krutenko N, Tsiura O, Shlieienkova H. [Analysis of gastrointestinal tract pathology structure in children]. Aktualni problemy suchasnoi medytsyny. 2021;(8):22-31. Ukrainian. doi: 10.26565/2617-409X-2021-8-02
Nedelska SM, Samokhin IV, Kriazhev OV, Yartseva DO, Bessikalo TH, Kliatska LI. [Functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract in children of different age groups (a literature review)]. Zaporozhye medical journal. 2024;26(1):66-71. Ukrainian. doi: 10.14739/2310-1210.2024.1.290950
Stepanov Y, Skirda I, Petishko O. [Digestive system diseases: the actual problem of clinical medicine]. Gastroenterologia. 2021;53(1):1-6. Ukrainian. doi: 10.22141/2308-2097.53.1.2019.163450
Zhang ZM, Lin ZL, He BX, Yan WT, Zhang XY, Zhang ZH, et al. Epidemiological analysis reveals a surge in inflammatory bowel disease among children and adolescents: A global, regional, and national perspective from 1990 to 2019 – insights from the China study. J Glob Health. 2023;13:04174. doi: 10.7189/jogh.13.04174
Caron B, Honap S, Peyrin-Biroulet L. Epidemiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease across the Ages in the Era of Advanced Therapies. J Crohns Colitis. 2024;18(Supplement_2):ii3-ii15. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjae082
Shazib MA, Byrd KM, Gulati AS. Diagnosis and Management of Oral Extraintestinal Manifestations of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2022;74(1):7-12. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003302
Romanenko YG. [Nature and frequency of changes in oral cavity of children with chronic gastroduodenitis]. Child’s health. 2012;(1):70-3. Ukrainian. Available from: https://mif-ua.com/archive/article/26009
Luchynskyi MA, Rozhko VI. [The features of tooth decay in children with the diseases of gastrointestinal tract]. Klinichna stomatolohiia. 2017;(4):66-9. Ukrainian. doi: 10.11603/2311-9624.2016.4.7239
Smoliar NI, Musii-Sementsiv KH. Poshyrenist ta intensyvnist kariiesu molochnykh zubiv u ditei iz zahalnosomatychnoiu patolohiieiu [Prevalence and intensity of deciduous tooth caries in children with general somatic pathology]. Klinichna stomatolohiia. 2013;(3):32-3. Ukrainian. Available from: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/klct_2013_3-4_18
Melnyk VS, Bilyschuk LM, Zombor KV, Melnyk SV. [Assessment of the dental status of children living in an area with a low content of fluorine and iodine]. Aktualni problemy suchasnoi medytsyny. 2016;16(1):17-20. Ukrainian. Available from: https://dspace.uzhnu.edu.ua/jspui/handle/lib/63099
Chukhrai NL. Otsinka stanu tverdykh tkanyn zubiv ta rezystentnosti emali u ditei z riznoiu suputnoiu somatychnoiu patolohiieiu [Assessment of the condition of dental hard tissues and enamel resistance in children with various concomitant somatic pathologies]. In: Innovative technologies in dentistry. Proceedings of the 6th scientific and practical conference; 2016 Sep 23; Ternopil, Ukraine: TSMU; 2016. p. 110-2. Ukrainian.
Kaskova LF, Pavlenkova OS. [Test parameters enamel resistance and clinical definition of speed remineralisation of enamel in children, who often suffer from ARVI]. Aktualni problemy suchasnoi medytsyny. 2010;10(1):131-3. Ukrainian.
Rozhko VI, Petruniv VB, Labiy YA, Voliak MN, Pyasetska LV. [Caries resistance and structural organization of enamel in children with rampant caries and gastrointestinal tract diseases]. Innovation in Stomatology. 2022;(1):43-7. Ukrainian. doi: 10.35220/2523-420X/2022.1.7
Sheshykova ОV, Padalka AI, Trufanova VP, Polischuk TV, Mosienko GS. [Features of the Prevalence of Dental Morbidity in Children with Pathology of the Gastrointestinal Tract]. Ukrainskyi zhurnal medytsyny, biolohii ta sportu. 2016;(1):107-9. Ukrainian. Available from: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/ujmbs_2016_1_25
Haznedaroglu E, Polat E. Dental Caries, Dental Erosion and Periodontal Disease in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Int J Med Sci. 2023;20(5):682-8. doi: 10.7150/ijms.83075
Koutsochristou V, Zellos A, Dimakou K, Panayotou I, Siahanidou S, Roma-Giannikou E, et al. Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease in Children and Adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Case-Control Study. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2015;21(8):1839-46. doi: 10.1097/MIB.0000000000000452
Sheshukova OV, Bauman SS. [Dental profile of children with chronic gastroduodenitis]. Bulletin of problems biology and medicine. 2020;3:370-3. Ukrainian. doi: 10.29254/2077-4214-2020-3-157-370-373
Karnaukh EV. General dental status in children with gastricacid-dependent diseases of uppergastrointestinaltract. Naynovite nauchni postizhenia – 2016. Proceedings of the 2th International Scientific Practical Conference. Sofia: «Byal GRAD-BG» OOD; 2016. p. 21-33.
Li Y, Wang Z, Fang M, Tay FR, Chen X. Association between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and dental erosion in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent. 2022;125:104247. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104247
Chatzidimitriou K, Papaioannou W, Seremidi K, Bougioukas K, Haidich AB. Prevalence and association of gastroesophageal reflux disease and dental erosion: An overview of reviews. J Dent. 2023;133:104520. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104520
Yip K, Lam PP, Yiu CK. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Erosive Tooth Wear among Preschool Children-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(3):491. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10030491
Mehdipour A, Chaboki P, Rasouli Asl F, Aghaali M, Sharifinejad N, Shams S. Comparing the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and virulence factors cagA, vacA, and dupA in supra-gingival dental plaques of children with and without dental caries: a case-control study. BMC Oral Health. 2022;22(1):170. doi: 10.1186/s12903-022-02175-5
Abdul NS, Khalid Alkhelaiwi A, Awadh Alenazi A, Fehaid Alrashidi R, Ghaleb Salma R. The Association of Helicobacter pylori in the Oral Cavity With Dental Caries in Patients With and Without Gastric Infection: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2023;15(5):e38398. doi: 10.7759/cureus.38398
Al Sayed A, Anand PS, Kamath KP, Patil S, Preethanath RS, Anil S. Oral Cavity as an Extragastric Reservoir of Helicobacter pylori. ISRN Gastroenterol. 2014;2014:261369. doi: 10.1155/2014/261369
El Batawi HY, Venkatachalam T, Francis A, Abujabal R, Shehadat SA. Dental Caries-A Hiding Niche for Helicobacter Pylori in Children. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2020;44(2):90-4. doi: 10.17796/1053-4625-44.2.4
Sruthi MA, Mani G, Ramakrishnan M, Selvaraj J. Dental caries as a source of Helicobacter pylori infection in children: An RT-PCR study. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2023;33(1):82-8. doi: 10.1111/ipd.13017
Popovich Z, Rozhko M, Chubiy I, Kukurudz N. [Ecology and dental health of the population of Ukraine]. Suchasna stomatolohiia. 2022;(1-2):42-6. Ukrainian. doi: 10.33295/1992-576X-2022-1-2-42
Hodovanets OI, Pavlov JO, Grynkevych LH, Vitkovskyj OO. Dental and somatic pathology comoridity in children. Galician medical journal. 2018;25(2):4-6. doi: 10.21802/gmj.2018.2.14
Bezvushko EV, Mykychak IV. Vzaiemozviazok kariiesu zubiv iz somatychnoiu patolohiieiu v ditei, yaki prozhyvaiut u raionakh, riznykh za ekolohichnoiu sytuatsiieiu [The relationship between dental caries and somatic pathology in children living in areas with different ecological situations]. Ukrainian Dental Almanac. 2012;(4):115-7. Ukrainian. Available from: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/Usa_2012_4_28
Karnaukh E, Nazaryan R, Gargin V. Clinico-pathogenetic markers of dental caries in children with gastroduodenal pathology. Yale review of education and science. 2015;1(16):490-5.
Karnaukh YV. [Dental caries in permanent teeth in children with acid-dependent diseases: prognostic developmental models and algorythm of progression risk evaluation]. Aktualni problemy suchasnoi medytsyny. 2016;16(3):12-5. Ukrainian. Available from: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/apsm_2016_16_3_5
Luchynskyi MA, Rozhko VI. [The evaluation of risk factors of genesis of plural caries in children with pathology of gastrointestinal tract]. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2017;7(5):341-9. Ukrainian. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.581208
Kuzenko YV, Romaniuk AM, Kuzenko OI, Loginov OV. [Estimation of dental status with diseases of the circulatory system and gastrointestinal tract]. Ukrainian Dental Almanac. 2014;(5-6):23-7. Ukrainian. Available from: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/Usa_2014_5-6_7
Downloads
Additional Files
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 M. O. Lysak
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. 
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access)
