Dental caries as a source of Helicobacter pylori infection in children: An RT-PCR study.

H. pylori was detected in 70% of children with severe carious lesions (95% confidence interval: 46%-88%). The mean DMFT score was significantly higher in the group with H. pylori than in the group without (p = .001). The prevalence of H. pylori was greater in those with ICDAS II code 6 than in those with ICDAS II code 5 caries. Cavitated carious lesions can serve as a reservoir for H. pylori. Its presence was associated with higher caries status and caries severity (ICDAS II code 6). The presence of H. pylori in such cavities may tip the balance of plaque ecosystem in favour of Streptococcus mutans, the main bacterial source in dental caries.