Published online Aug 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i29.9922
Revised: December 5, 2013
Accepted: April 1, 2014
Published online: August 7, 2014
Processing time: 312 Days and 21.9 Hours
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been found in the oral cavity and stomach, and its infection is one of the most frequent worldwide. We reviewed the literature and conducted a Topic Highlight, which identified studies reporting an association between H. pylori-infection in the oral cavity and H. pylori-positive stomach bacterium. This work was designed to determine whether H. pylori is the etiologic agent in periodontal disease, recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), squamous cell carcinoma, burning and halitosis. Record selection focused on the highest quality studies and meta-analyses. We selected 48 articles reporting on the association between saliva and plaque and H. pylori-infection. In order to assess periodontal disease data, we included 12 clinical trials and 1 meta-analysis. We evaluated 13 published articles that addressed the potential association with RAS, and 6 with squamous cell carcinoma. Fourteen publications focused on our questions on burning and halitosis. There is a close relation between H. pylori infection in the oral cavity and the stomach. The mouth is the first extra-gastric reservoir. Regarding the role of H. pylori in the etiology of squamous cell carcinoma, no evidence is still available.
Core tip: Infection by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most frequent worldwide, with major implications for stomach pathology over the last twenty-five years. Early diagnosis is essential for control of the infection. There has been a growing interest in H. pylori-infection in the oral cavity, since the oral-oral is one of the major transmission routes. This review describes the association between H. pylori and different oral pathologies, such as periodontal disease, canker sores, squamous cell carcinoma, burning tongue and halitosis, and their correlation with the gastric pathology.