Abstract:

Introduction: Obesity poses a significant health risk to our society with prevalence that has dramatically increased in children. Obesity and periodontal diseases share many common risk factors.Aim: To study the oral hygiene status and prevalence of gingivitis in children with increased body mass index. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in Plovdiv, October-December 2017 and January-March 2018 among 1826 school children aged 6-11. The oral hygiene status was determined using Silness-Loe plaque index and Green-Vermillion calculus index assessed on vestibular surfaces of first maxillary permanent molars and one maxillary and one mandibular central permanent incisor, and lingual surfaces of mandibular first permanent molars. The condition of the gingiva was determined as presence or absence of gingivitis.Results: The study included 1826 children (953 boys and 921 girls). With regard to BMI, the distribution should be 5% underweight, 66.5% normal weight, 17.7% overweight, and 10.8% obese, as in the text below. There was no significant correlation between age and BMI. No significant correlation was found between BMI and gingivitis (p>0.05). Quality of oral hygiene was significantly associated only with gender: χ2(2)=18.847, p<0.001; χ2(1) =7.582, p<0.05 as the group of boys presented with greater accumulation of dental plaque and calculus.Conclusion: Increased BMI is not an independent predictor of gingivitis. Poor oral hygiene is strongly associated only with gender

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