Asthma and oral changes in children: Associated factors in a community of southern Brazil.

Background: Asthma is a chronic disease that involves several healthcare services that need attention in relation to its treatment and prevention.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate caries, erosion, and enamel defects in children with and without asthma.

Design: Cross-sectional study, with a sample of 228 children ages 6-12 years, stratified as asthmatic (n = 112) and non-asthmatic (n = 116), at two Primary Health Units of the Community Health Service, Brazil. The evaluation consisted of an oral examination and a structured interview with parents/guardians, in addition to data from medical records. Data were analysed by Poisson regression with a robust error variance, all of them at a level of significance of P < 0.05.

Results: Of 112 asthmatic children, 63 (51.2%) had dental caries and 25 (53.2%) enamel defects. In the adjusted analysis, dental caries and use of salbutamol were associated (PR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.01-1.72). In addition, children who performed oral hygiene more than three times a day showed a greater prevalence (PR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.02-4.85) of dental erosion compared with children who performed it only once a day.

Conclusions: There is no evidence for an association between asthma, caries, erosion, and enamel defect in children aged from 6 to 12 years. There was, however, an association between dental caries and use of salbutamol.