Systematic Review of the Relationship between Vitamin D Deficiency and Delayed Teething in Children and Infants

Background: In oral health, there has been an increasing focus on vitamin D (VD) levels. VD deficiency (VDD) is linked to a broad range of oral health issues during growth and maturity, and reduced VD synthesis may hasten the onset of some of these illnesses. Severe VDD in children can lead to poor tooth mineralization, which can lead to dentin and enamel abnormalities. Consequently, there's a chance that these flaws will raise the chance of dental caries developing and spreading. Objectives: This study's main goal was to determine how vitamin D insufficiency affects children's and newborns' delayed teething.  Methodology: We conducted a thorough search of PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Science Direct to find pertinent literature. The Rayyan QRCI was utilized during the whole operation. Results: The timing of the eruption and the amounts of vitamin D were shown to be significantly correlated (P < 0.001). Compared to infants with sufficient-to-optimal values of 25(OH)D (≥50.0 nmol/L) at birth, children with vitamin D deficiency at birth showed greater dental ages, higher developmental stages of the mandibular second premolar, and higher developmental stages of the mandibular second molar. Furthermore, compared to children with appropriate levels of vitamin D, those with a deficiency were 2.5 times more likely to have delayed teething. Additionally, the usual teething group had a mean blood vitamin D level of 26.8 ng/mL, whereas the delayed teething group had a mean level of 20.3 ng/mL. Conclusion: Studies from Saudi Arabia, India, Brazil, the United States, and Egypt have all underlined the effect that vitamin D insufficiency has on delayed teething in newborns and children. These findings emphasize the significance of maintaining appropriate vitamin D levels for healthy dental development by showing a continuous link between low levels of the vitamin and delayed teething eruption. Moreover, studies indicate that vitamin D concentrations in mothers and newborns may also influence how children's teeth develop. Promoting children's oral health outcomes requires addressing vitamin D insufficiency through suitable therapies and public health policies.