OBJECTIVE: An assessment of oral symptoms and signs in patients with 
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
METHODS: Fifty-four patients with IBD, 34 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 20 with 
ulcerative colitis (UC) participated in the study. Forty-two patients without 
gastrointestinal disease or complaints attending the orthopedic clinic served as 
controls. Each patient completed a written questionnaire and was subjected to an 
oral examination.
RESULTS: The main findings of this study were the higher prevalence of halitosis 
(50% vs 10% P < 0.0008), nausea (30% vs 7%, P < 0.017) and reflux 
(regurgitation) (45% vs 17%, P < 0.017) in patients with UC, and nausea (50% vs 
7%, P < 0.026), dry mouth and halitosis (29% vs 10%, P < 0.026) and vomiting 
(41% vs 5%, P = 0.01) in patients with CD, compared with controls. Patients with 
active CD had a higher prevalence of dry mouth, nausea and vomiting compared 
with controls (46, 69 and 54% vs 10, 7 and 5%, respectively, P < 0.001) and of 
reflux compared with non-active CD (46% vs 5%, P < 0.001). Patients with active 
UC had a higher prevalence of halitosis and regurgitation (50 and 60% vs 10 and 
17%, P < 0.001) compared with controls.
CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates increased frequency of oral signs 
and symptoms in patients with IBD. Patients with active CD had more oral signs 
compared with non-active CD patients. Manifestations such as nausea, vomiting, 
regurgitation and dry mouth may have detrimental effects on teeth and soft 
tissues of the oral cavity. Communication between gastroenterologists and 
dentists is imperative for success of the overall treatment of their patients.