The Relationship Between Salivary Flow And Dental Caries Among Teenagers

Abstract

Background: Saliva is one of the intraoral host factors that influence caries development. Dental caries is the most prevalent chronic oral disease, influencing the oral and systemic health of the individuals, being the result of the interaction of multiple factors, such as microbial agents, the oral environment, the salivary pH, and the host response. The role of saliva in the etiology of dental caries is a major one, by influencing the homeostasis through the altering of its buffer capacity. The properties of saliva are influenced either by local pathogens or through a general mechanism with direct implications upon the salivary components. The study aims: to assess the relationship between salivary flow and caries experience among teenagers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted Sixty-eight male adolescents, aged between 15 and 19 years, in KSA. They answered a structured questionnaire, and oral examination was performed by the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. The salivary flow rate was obtained using the mechanically stimulated total saliva method. Adjusted Poisson regression was used for the association with total DMFT and its decayed component, using the salivary flow (continuous fashion) or the hypo salivation (≤1 ml/min) as independent variables. Results: Participants were divided into two groups, those who did not have any decayed teeth at the moment of the examination (n = 39) and those who had at least one decayed tooth (n = 29). Moreover, two groups were formed based on the DMFT: those who had DMFT = 0 (n = 20) and those who had DMFT≥1 (n = 48). In the multivariate analysis, hypo salivation wa[1]s associated with DMFT≥1 (p = 0.048), but when the salivary flow was included, no significant association with DMFT index was identified (p = 0.178). Conversely, the presence of at least one decayed tooth was significantly associated with the salivary flow (p = 0.004), but not with hypo salivation (p = 0.091). Conclusions: Adolescents who present hypo salivation or low salivary flow are associated with DMFT≥1 index or presence of at least one decayed tooth, respectively.