Dental caries increases the risk of stunting in children by altering the serum metabolome through affecting the gut microbiota

Given the substantial population of children suffering from both dental caries and malnutrition, it is crucial to explore the potential relationship between these two diseases. Due to the close connection between gut microbiota and both dental caries and malnutrition, we hypothesize that gut microbiota may be a key link in the process by which dental caries affects the growth and development of children. Based on this assumption, this project explored the changes and connections between the oral microbiota and gut microbiota of caries patients through 16S rDNA sequencing of plaque and fecal samples from participants.