Dental Caries-A Hiding Niche for Helicobacter Pylori in Children

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the human pathogens proven to be present in the oral cavity due to microaerophilic nature of the dental biofilm. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of H. pylori in cavitated carious lesions of children by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Study design: Forty-eight children aged between 4 to 7-years attending outpatient Pediatric clinic were enrolled in the study. Caries status and caries severity were assessed using the dmft and ICDAS caries index. Dentine samples were collected for DNA isolation for the detection of H. pylori by PCR. Results: H. pylori was detected among 30% of children with severe caries lesions detected by PCR. Overall, the mean ± SD of the dmft score for H. pylori positive children was higher compared to the negative control. Amongst the H. pylori-positive group, the decayed (mean-dt) number of teeth were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the other group. Moreover, association between severity of caries lesions (codes 5 and codes 6) and presence of H. pylori were significant (p<0.05) when compared negative group. Conclusion: The results demonstrate presence of H. pylori in the cavitated, non-gastric niche of children with severe caries, which possibly could serve as a reservoir for microbial dissemination to other sites of the body.