Saliva: A Powerful Diagnostic Tool for Minimal Intervention Dentistry

Abstract

Saliva plays a vital role in oral health as patients strive to maintain a healthy dentition throughout their lives. It is nature's primary defense mechanism for the oral environment, and is particularly important for protecting exposed tooth surfaces. While internal protection for dentin comes from odontoblasts and the dental pulp, the body's external protection for enamel comes from saliva.The noninvasive nature of salivary testing has made it an effective alternative to blood and urine testing and home testing kits have made it possible for people to monitor their own health using this diagnostic medium. This paper presents what saliva can reveal about general and oral health as well as highlights the current use and potential clinical and research applications, of diagnostics based on oral fluids.Clinical significance: Early detection always minimizes the need for more invasive treatment. It prevents oral health disease at an early stage and provides a good oral health in rejuvenated state. If you stick and follow regular professional care, prevention maintenance appointments, prevention counseling, good home care and oral hygiene, diet habits you will be free from oral health illness and you can experience the harmonious and rejuvenated state of good oral health.

Salivary characteristics and dental caries

“…The capacity of saliva to flush microorganisms and substrates and maintain oral cleanliness may be influenced by its consistency and flow rate. 5,6 Salivary pH and buffering capacity can contribute to the ion exchanges during re-mineralization and demineralization of enamel, with supersaturation of calcium and phosphate at pH 7 and in the presence of fluoride. 7 The concentration of hydrogen ions (pH) at the tooth surface also will affect the rate of demineralization.…”

“…7 The concentration of hydrogen ions (pH) at the tooth surface also will affect the rate of demineralization. 7 The statements above are based primarily on the results of in vitro studies 5,6,7 that reveal the biological plausibility for changes in salivary characteristics to contribute to the development of dental caries.…”

Effect of Different Commercially Available Biscuits on Salivary pH, Flow Rate and Oral Clearance Rate Among Children

“…The salivary flow rate and its consistency contributes in flushing of the microorganisms and substrates from the oral cavity and thus maintains oral cleanliness. 12,13 Salivary pH and buffering capacity contributes to the ion exchange during remineralization and demineralization of the enamel. 14 Thus, we have used salivary pH, flow rate and oral clearance time to assess the cariogenicity of the commercially available biscuits.…”

Risk assessments in orthodontic patients developing white spot lesions

“…After meals, it takes approximately 20 minutes to return the oral environment to neutral pH, but it can take up to 1 hour. Low salivary flow may lengthen the amount of time spent in the demineralization state . Normal stimulated saliva flow is 1.5 mL/min, and less than 0.7 mL of stimulated saliva per minute is considered inadequate .…”

“…Low salivary flow may lengthen the amount of time spent in the demineralization state. 10 Normal stimulated saliva flow is 1.5 mL/min, 11 and less than 0.7 mL of stimulated saliva per minute is considered inadequate. 9 The risk for caries increases if a patient's salivary flow remains low over an extended period of time.…”