CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS ON CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a significant global public health problem, with impacts that extend beyond metabolic changes and affect different dimensions of health, including oral health. This study is characterized as a literature review, aiming to analyze the main repercussions of childhood obesity on children's oral health. The research was conducted through a survey of scientific articles, institutional documents, and publications indexed in national and international electronic databases. Studies related to childhood overweight, consumption of ultra-processed foods, dental caries, gingival inflammation, salivary alterations, and psychosocial impacts were selected. The results showed that obese children have greater exposure to risk factors, such as a diet rich in sugars, sedentary lifestyle, and insufficient self-care habits, favoring a higher occurrence of dental caries, gingival inflammatory processes, and damage to self-esteem. It is concluded that addressing childhood obesity and its oral repercussions requires early preventive strategies and integrated action among professionals in nutrition, pediatrics, dentistry, school, and family.