Study of Unstimulated Salivary Flow Rate, pH and Buffer Capacity in Normal Adults

Abstract

Background: Salivary physical and chemical property is important for caries control. Unstimulated salivary flow rate is important for protection of oral cavity. Salivary pH correlated to buffer capacitythat neutralizes pH after exposure to acidic or basic condition so protects the teeth from demineralization which ends to caries. In this study changes of buffer capacity and flow rate according to age and gender was investigated to have assumption on age related changes on oral health. Material and Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted on 250 volunteers on Biochemistry Department of Kabul University of Medical Sciences. Unstimulated saliva was calculated in milliliter per minute.pH was calculated using pH meter and buffer capacity was measured by hydrochloric acid titration. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 21. Mann Whitney U test was used for comparison of variables. Result: In this study among 250 volunteers there were 130 female, 120 male and 165 were between 18-30 years old, while 85 were between age 31-65 years old. Flow rate and buffer capacity decreased after age 30 years and female had lower flow rate and lower buffer capacity than males. There was no change in pH between females and males and two age groups. Weak positive correlation exists between flow rate and buffercapacity. Conclusion: It can be concluded that female’s salivary flow rate and buffer capacity is lower than men that is suggestive of more caries risk in females.