Oral health status, salivary flow rate and salivary quality in children, adolescents and young adults 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, adolescents and young adults with ADHD are more prone to caries than those without.

Aim

The study investigated a possible relationship between the oral health status of children, adolescents and young adults diagnosed with ADHD, both with and without pharmacological intervention, and the following: salivary flow rate, oral mucosal pH, plaque index (PI), oral hygiene and dietary behaviour.

Study design

DMFT/dmft index (D;d-Decay, M;m-Missing; F;f-Filled,T;t-teeth), plaque index, oral mucosal pH and unstimulated whole salivary flow (USF) were examined in three groups of children, adolescents and young adults: 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 and in parent reported diet and oral health behaviour 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 diet or oral health behaviour as assessed by parent reports.