What is it about?
Oral health conditions, dietary practices, nutritional status, and general health status are all interrelated factors. Malnutrition adversely affects the oral structures. Studies have shown that early malnutrition affects tooth structure, delay in tooth eruption, and results in increased dental caries. It is also associated with enhanced susceptibility to caries because of impaired saliva secretion due to salivary glandular hypofunction and saliva compositional changes.
Featured Image
Photo by Yannis H on Unsplash
Why is it important?
The issue of malnourishment and infant mortality is rampant across the state of Karnataka. To overcome malnutrition, the Government of India has introduced Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program for children below 6 years and pregnant and nursing mothers. This program includes preschool education for children in the 3–6-year-age group, immunization of children and mothers, health checkup by medical officers, referral services for health, and education about importance of nutrition. In Karnataka, ICDS program was first launched as a pilot project at T-Narasipura taluk in Mysore district on 2 October 1975. However, malnourishment continues to be a concern in this area.Anganwadi center is a focal point for activities of ICDS program. Malnutrition increases susceptibility to infections while an infection aggravates malnutrition by decreasing appetite, inducing catabolism, and increasing demand for nutrients. The increased susceptibility to infections may be caused by the impairment of immune function due to malnutrition. Malnutrition and infections are the two most important factors that affect the growth of children.The magnitude of the problem of malnutrition among children under 5 years of age is high throughout India. About 2.3 crores children in India, up to 6 years of age, are suffering from malnourishment and are underweight.
Perspectives
Preschool children form the most vulnerable segment of any community. More than 30% of children under 5 years of age are malnourished. Undernutrition is the most common cause of death in this age group in India. The major issue was the deaths associated with malnutrition that occur in children who are marginally malnourished. Their nutritional status is a sensitive indicator of their health. Malnutrition appears to have multiple effects on the oral tissues and subsequent development of oral disease. It results in altered tissue homeostasis, reduced resistance to microbial biofilms, and tissue repair capacity. Malnutrition is associated with enamel hypoplasia, dental caries, and salivary gland changes. Change in the salivary characteristics reduces the defense mechanism of saliva and its ability to buffer the plaque acids.Reliable data on general and oral health of malnourished children are a prerequisite for monitoring and improving their growth and development.
Dr. Madhusudhan K Siddaiah
Krishnadevaraya College of Dental Sciences, India
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Nutritional Status and its Relationship with Dental Caries among 3–6-year-old Anganwadi Children, International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, January 2020, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishing,
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1706.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
