Oral health and general health are intertwined, affecting and
affected by one another. General health can affect
oral health. Conversely, oral diseases and conditions
can affect general health. Medical conditions often
have oral implications and consequences.
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 Poor
oral health can profoundly affect
an infant’s or child’s health
and well-being.
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Signs of illness or abuse can be present
in the mouth. Vitamin deficiencies; bacterial, viral,
and fungal infections; congenital conditions; systemic
conditions; and child abuse can have orofacial manifestations.
Medical interventions and medications
can directly or indirectly affect oral health. Altered
saliva quality and quantity can be a side effect of
anti-anxiety medications, anticonvulsants, antidepressants,
antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, narcotics,
non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications, and sedatives.
Tetracyclines and oral preparations such as iron supplements
can cause staining of the teeth.
Poor oral health can profoundly affect
an infant’s or child’s health and well-being.
Early tooth loss caused by advanced tooth decay can
result in failure to thrive in young children. Oral
health problems can lead to impaired speech development,
inability to concentrate on important early learning
experiences, and absences from school or child development
programs.[10]
Children with chronic dental pain are unable to focus,
are easily distracted, and may have difficulty completing
schoolwork. Their performance in school may deteriorate.[17]
Severe oral disease can play a part
in the following:
- Difficulty chewing. Children with severe
oral disease may have difficulty chewing. These
children may not eat enough or may have modified
diets that do not contain the nutrients required
for healthy growth and development.
- Reduced self-esteem. Children with severe
oral disease may be reluctant to smile owing to
embarrassment about the appearance of their teeth.
- Difficulty sleeping. Infants and children
with severe oral disease may have difficulty sleeping.
- Missed opportunities for learning. Infants
and children with severe oral disease may have frequent
absences from school, child development programs,
or other child care programs.
Understanding how infants’ and
young children’s oral health is related to their
general health will help health professionals interpret
the possible causes of oral health problems and their
affect on general health. Health professionals need
to be observant of infants’ and children’s
appearance and behavior. Children who exhibit any
of the symptoms described above need to be referred
to a dentist for further assessment and possible intervention.
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Understanding
how infants’ and young children’s
oral health is related to their general
health will help health professionals interpret
the possible causes of oral health problems
and their affect on general health.
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