Unstimulated salivary flow rate, pH and buffer capacity of saliva in healthy volunteers

Abstract

Objectives: to assess the salivary flow rate, pH, and buffer capacity of healthy volunteers, and their relationships with age, gender, obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption, and to establish the lower-end value of normal salivary flow (oligosialia). Methods: a prospective study was conducted in 159 healthy volunteers (age > 18 years, absence of medical conditions that could decrease salivary flow). Unstimulated whole saliva was collected during ten minutes, and salivary flow rate (ml/min), pH, and bicarbonate concentration (mmol/l) were measured using a Radiometer ABL 520. The 5 percentile of salivary flow rate and bicarbonate concentration was considered the lower limit of normality. Results: median salivary flow rate was 0.48 ml/min (range: 0.1-2 ml/min). Age younger than 44 years was associated with higher flow rates (OR 2.10). Compared with women, men presented a higher flow rate (OR 3.19) and buffer capacity (OR 2.81). Bicarbonate concentration correlated with salivary flow rate. The lower-end values of normal flow rate and bicarbonate concentration were 0.15 ml/min and 1.800 mmol/l, respectively. The presence of obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption did not influence salivary parameters. Conclusions: in healthy volunteers, salivary flow rate depends on age and gender, and correlates with buffer capacity. Obesity, smoking, and alcohol use do not influence salivary secretion.

The Effect of Tobacco Smoking on Salivation

“…Poznato je da pušenje duhana općenito štetno djeluje na opće i oralno zdravlje. A dokazi upućuju na to da je pušenje jedan od vanjskih čimbenika smanjenoga lučenja sline, ali su nalazi istraži-vanja kontradiktorni (3).…”

“…It is known that smoking tobacco affects general and oral health. Also, evidence suggests that smoking is one of the external factors which reduces secretion of saliva, however, research findings are contradictory (3). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of tobacco smoking on quality and quantity of salivation and the oral hygiene status of subjects.…”

Measuring nicotine intake among highly-dependent adolescent smokers: Comparability of saliva and plasma cotinine concentrations

“…Variations across individuals in the timing of development might lead to a greater range of flow rates in adolescents than in adults. Fenoll-Palomares et al (2004) found a significant positive correlation between salivary flow rate and pH values. Cotinine is a basic compound whose concentration in saliva is pH dependent (Cone, 1993).…”

Clinical, Salivary and Bacterial Markers on the Orthodontic Treatment

“…An unstimulated salivary <0.30 mL/min it is considered like risk factor (Ansai et al, 1994;Harris & García-Godoy, 2001;Fenoll-Palomares et al, 2004;Larmas, 1992;Leone, 2001;Zárate et al, 2004).…”

“…Saliva is essential for the protection of the tooth against dental caries and protects the integrity of the soft oral tissues, facilitates the mastication, the swallowing and the speech, as well as the sensibility and the digestive functions in the oral cavity. Near 99 % of saliva is water, 1% remaining consists of a complex mixture of constituent to different concentrations (Harris & García Godoy, 2001;Featherstone, 2000;Fenoll-Palomares et al, 2004;Larmas, 1992;Leone, 2001). …”