Obesity and Dental Caries in Children and Adolescents

Objectives: To determine relationship between obesity and dental caries in children and adolescents. Additionally, to explore and report the possible explanations and the underlying causes of the association between obesity and dental caries.

Methods: Databases search for recent papers published between January 2015 and August 2017, inclusive, addressing the association between obesity and dental caries was conducted. Review and critical appraisal of all included studies were performed.

Results: Twenty three studies were included in this review from different populations worldwide. Among them, seven studies assessed the primary dentition, another seven studies conducted on permanent dentition, and nine studies on both dentitions. The studies’ results regarding the association between obesity and dental caries were conflicting and inconsistent. Eight studies concluded that there was no relationship between obesity and dental caries. The positive association was reported in five studies, while the inverse association was reported in nine studies. The studies included in this review presented wide variations in methodology and the investigated cofactors. The possible explanations of the controversial association between obesity and dental caries were discussed in this review.

Conclusions: Both obesity and dental caries are multifactorial diseases and their association is far more complex than can be explained by a single common risk factor. This review provides additional evidence for the complexity of this association.