The link between dental caries and the use of anti-asthma medications

The Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dental Research has published the results of a study on the relationship between asthma and dental caries in childhood and adolescence.

The study was performed on an experimental group of 138 children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 years who had been taking anti-asthma medications for at least one year, and used the International Tooth Decay System to determine the condition of their teeth. After 3 years, 53 patients in the experimental group with asthma and 53 patients in the control group who did not take anti-asthma medication were re-examined.

As a result, fewer children with asthma were found to have no decayed teeth. In addition, the percentage of decay of deciduous and permanent teeth and the conversion of decayed teeth to missing teeth was significantly higher. Observations showed that children who took lower doses of the inhaled glucocorticoid and leukotriene antagonist and ate milk and cheese daily had fewer decayed teeth.

To summarize, children taking anti-asthma medications experienced more caries and more caries progression over a period of three years in their deciduous and permanent teeth, although other factors were involved.