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. 2025 Jan 27;17(1):e78042.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.78042. eCollection 2025 Jan.

Dental Caries as a Cause of Primary Hypertension Among Children and Adolescents

Azka Haroon  1 , Ayesha Jabeen  1 , Waleed Babar  2 , Nimrah Awan  3 , Omama Fatima  4 , Maria Rabbani  5
Affiliations

Dental Caries as a Cause of Primary Hypertension Among Children and Adolescents

Azka Haroon et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background Dental caries is a prevalent but sometimes disregarded ailment that may have systemic health effects, such as being linked to primary hypertension in kids and teenagers. Knowing this connection might help develop preventative measures for early cardiovascular risk reduction. Objective To investigate the association between dental caries severity and primary hypertension among children and adolescents, identifying potential mechanisms linking oral health to systemic blood pressure regulation. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2024 to November 2024. Participants with dental caries who were between the ages of 8 and 18 and who had never had secondary hypertension or chronic systemic illnesses were evaluated. The Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index was used to assess the severity of dental caries, and calibrated sphygmomanometers were used to monitor blood pressure. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on clinical and demographic factors, such as age, BMI, and eating patterns. Results Out of 320 participants, 12.5% were hypertensive (n = 40). The degree of dental caries and hypertension were found to be significantly correlated (p < 0.001). With ORs of 5.78 (95% CI: 2.21-15.00) and 25.45 (95% CI: 4.34-147.50), respectively, people with moderate (DMFT scores 4-6) and severe (DMFT scores 7+) caries had greater risks of hypertension, according to logistic regression analysis. A higher risk of hypertension was also associated with unbalanced eating patterns (OR = 3.27, 95% CI: 1.42-7.54). Conclusions The research shows a strong correlation between children's and teens' primary hypertension and the severity of dental caries. Promoting better eating habits and taking care of oral health may lower the incidence of hypertension, highlighting the need for early preventative oral health measures.

Keywords: adolescents; children; dental caries; hypertension; oral health; primary prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. The Institutional Review Board of Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University issued approval 229-PD-STMU. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

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