Impact of Malnutrition on Oral Health Status and Dental Development in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study from the Sahel Region

Abstract

Malnutrition remains a critical public health challenge in the Sahel region, affecting millions of children and manifesting in various physiological and developmental impairments. This cross-sectional study investigates the intricate relationship between malnutrition and oral health outcomes in children aged 2-12 years residing in the Sahel region. Through comprehensive clinical examinations and anthropometric assessments of 847 children across five Sahel countries, this research demonstrates significant associations between nutritional status and oral health parameters, including dental caries prevalence, enamel hypoplasia, delayed tooth eruption, and periodontal conditions. The findings reveal that children with severe acute malnutrition exhibited 3.2 times higher prevalence of enamel defects and 2.8 times greater incidence of dental caries compared to their well-nourished counterparts. Furthermore, stunted children demonstrated significant delays in tooth eruption patterns, with an average delay of 8-14 months compared to international standards. This study contributes valuable epidemiological data to the limited literature on pediatric oral health in resource-constrained settings and underscores the necessity for integrated nutritional and dental health interventions in the Sahel region. The implications extend beyond clinical dentistry, informing public health policy and humanitarian interventions targeting vulnerable pediatric populations in sub-Saharan Africa.