Oral Health Status of Asthmatic Preschoolers in Hong Kong

Methods: Preschool children attending six selected kindergartens in different districts in Hong Kong were invited. Children with a history of asthma and a matched control group by gender and class were examined by calibrated examiners. Caries was diagnosed according to the criteria recommended by the World Health Organization, and oral hygiene assessed according to the visible plaque index. Parents were interviewed over the phone regarding asthma-related and oral health-related background of the child.

Results: A total of 685 children were invited and 634 were examined. The response rate was 93%. The prevalence of asthma among the children was 16%. There were no significant differences in oral hygiene between asthmatic and non-asthmatic children. Asthmatic children had a similar mean dmft score compared to the controls (2.3 vs. 2.2, p>0.05). No significant correlations were found between the child's dental caries status and their duration of asthma or asthmatic medication use. Higher dmft scores were found in children who came from a lower socio-economic class, those who frequently snacked or those who brushed their teeth less frequently.

Conclusions: There were no significant associations between oral health and asthma, including the medication used, among the studied Hong Kong preschool children.