Oral consequences of obesity and metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents

Abstract

Nowadays, the epidemic of obesity and metabolic syndrome can be observed not only among adults, but also amid the younger population, with more than 380 million children and adolescents worldwide being affected by these phenomena. Obesity is considered a systemic chronic metabolic disease resulting from the imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified obesity as the most serious chronic disease, which, if untreated, leads to dangerous health problems (hypertension, heart failure, as well as kidney, nervous system and eye diseases). Recent scientific findings indicate a close relationship between obesity/metabolic syndrome and changes in the oral environment in children and adolescents. Obesity significantly increases the incidence of dental hard tissue diseases, periodontal diseases and diseases of the stomatognathic system. It also affects the secretion activity of the salivary glands, which changes the quantitative and qualitative composition of unstimulated and stimulated saliva. It is believed that in the face of a growing epidemic of obesity in children and adolescents, dental practitioners should also participate in the systemic treatment and prevention in this group of patients.

Keywords: children; dental problems; metabolic syndrome; obesity; oral cavity.