Salivary bacteria and oral health status in children with ADHD

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a childhood neurological disorder that presents in 3-7% of school-age children. Studies have shown that children with ADHD are more prone to caries than those without. Objectives: The study investigated a possible relationship between the oral health status of children diagnosed with ADHD, both with and without pharmacological intervention, and the following: salivary flow rate, oral mucosal pH, plaque index (PI), Mutans Streptococci (MS) levels, Lactobacilli (LB) levels, salivary buffer capacity, and oral hygiene and dietary behavior. Methods: DMFT/dmft index, PI, oral mucosal pH, unstimulated whole salivary flow (USF), MS and LB levels and salivary buffer capacity were examined in three groups of children: those diagnosed with ADHD with no pharmacological intervention (N=31), those treated with medications for ADHD (N=30), and a healthy control group (N= 30). Diet and oral health habits were assessed by means of questionnaires completed by parents. Results: Mean USF values were 0.72, 0.85 and 1.13 ml/min for participants with ADHD and without medication, with ADHD and with medication, and without ADHD, respectively (p = 0.016). There were no differences in the DMFT/dmft index, MS and LB counts, salivary buffer capacity and in parent reported diet and oral health behavior between the three groups. Children with ADHD demonstrated a statistically significant higher plaque index (p<0.05). Conclusions: The ADHD group, with or without pharmacological intervention, showed higher plaque index and lower USF, but no difference in DMFT/dmft. The ADHD group did not differ from the non-ADHD group in their MS and LB counts, salivary buffer capacity, diet or oral health behavior as assessed by parent reports.