Analysis of salivary flow and pH with respect to rehydration and food consumption.

Ravichandran, Vigneshwaran; Gayathri, R.; Priya, V. Vishnu

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of rehydration and food consumption on salivary flow and pH of saliva. Background: Saliva is essential for the maintenance of oral health and it is an important diagnostic biofluid. It plays a pivotal role in protection and lubrication of oral mucosal tissues, remineralization of teeth, and alimentation. The salivary composition has many important physical and biochemical properties. It is useful for diagnosis, prognosis, and management of patients with oral and systemic diseases. Understanding the role of saliva in maintaining health, as well as its relation to oral disease, is vital to the competent dental practitioner. In this research, the various changes in the salivary pH and salivary flow were studied under different conditions. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 healthy volunteers were selected. Their salivary pH and salivary flow were calculated under three different conditions. The conditions were normal, after food consumption, after rehydration. The salivary flow was calculated in the scale of ml/min. Results:The salivary pH was almost same (7.75 and 7.85) in the normal condition and after food consumption. After rehydration, the salivary pH became neutral (7.3). In the case of salivary flow, the salivary flow rate was almost same (1.91 ml/min and 1.785 ml/min) in the normal condition and after the consumption of food. After the condition of rehydration, the salivary flow was increased (2.43 ml/min) with much difference than the salivary flow in the normal condition. Conclusion:The rehydration plays a key role in increase in salivary flow and maintaining the salivary pH in neutral. Thus, the regular rehydration is necessary for oral health and in maintenance of salivary pH and salivary flow and to avoid oral problems onto maintains oral hygiene.

FOOD consumption; ORAL rehydration therapy; SALIVA pH; SALIVA analysis; ORAL diseases

Drug Invention Today, 2018, Vol 10, Issue 8, p1418

0975-7619

Academic Journal