The oral cavity as a reservoir of Helicobacter pylori and its association with periodontal disease
Keywords:
gastric disease; periodontal disease; Helicobacter pyloriAbstract
Introduction: Helicobacter pylori is associated with gastrointestinal diseases, and its presence in dental plaque and periodontal pockets positions it as a clinically relevant potential periodontopathic pathogen.
Objective: To determine the possible association between periodontal disease and the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the oral cavity.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in three healthcare institutions (Celestino Hernández Hospital, Faculty of Dentistry, and Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine) between January 2022 and September 2023. One hundred and thirty-one patients with a prior diagnosis of gastric disease due to Helicobacter pylori were studied. Oral examinations were performed, and the presence of Helicobacter pylori in plaque and calculus was assessed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The variables were: age, sex, oral hygiene, periodontal condition, reinfection of gastric disease, and presence of Helicobacter pylori in the oral cavity.
Results: 59.5% had periodontal disease; 62.5% of those aged 70 and over presented with periodontitis. 49.4% of the women had healthy periodontium; 74.2% of the patients with periodontitis had poor oral hygiene. 92.5% of those with healthy periodontium did not have the bacteria in the oral cavity, and among those who did, 62.1% showed gastric reinfection.
Conclusions: Periodontal disease was predominant, and an association was found between poor oral hygiene, periodontitis, and the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the oral cavity. Gastric reinfection was predominant in patients with oral colonization of the pathogen.
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