Abstract
Previous studies have discovered intergenerational linkage between maternal nutritional status and the subsequent health of their offspring. This literature review aimed to explore the connection between the nutritional status of mothers during pregnancy and the occurrence of dental caries in their children. PubMed and Scopus were used for searching articles, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) protocol. The process involved eliminating duplicate articles, and further refinement included articles published within the timeframe of 2013-2023 and those published in the English language. Review articles, studies involving animals, letters to the editor, book sections, and conference proceedings were excluded. Articles that did not provide information on the variables of interest and sample details were also excluded. Data extraction included author names, article titles, publication years, study designs, indicators of maternal nutritional status, type of dentition under consideration, and the reported outcomes. After meticulous removal of duplicate articles and careful application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 7 articles met the study's eligibility criteria. The study results collectively indicated that lower levels and intake of maternal plasma vitamin D, reduced maternal plasma folate levels, inadequate gestational weight gain, and overall poor maternal nutritional status were associated with an increased risk of dental caries in their children. It is crucial for mothers to maintain a diet that guarantees the adequate nutrition of the developing fetus.