A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ALTERATION IN SALIVARY pH AMONG TOBACCO USERS AND HEALTHY CONTROLS

Dr.S.Kailasam; Dr.N.Santana; Dr.D.Leena; Dr.R.Geetha; Dr.S.Ezhil Pallavi

Volume : VIII, Issue : VI, June - 2019

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ALTERATION IN SALIVARY pH AMONG TOBACCO USERS AND HEALTHY CONTROLS

Dr. S. Kailasam, Dr. N. Santana, Dr. D. Leena, Dr. R. Geetha, Dr. S. Ezhil Pallavi

Abstract :

Saliva is a body fluid which plays a critical role in oral homeostasis because it modulates the ecosystem within the oral cavity. Saliva can be stimulated or non stimulated. Any alteration in quantity or quality of salivary secretion may lead to local effects such as caries,oral mucositis, candidiasis, oral infections, chewing disorders or extraoral effects like dysphagia, halitosis. The pH in the saliva plays an important role in the life, growth and multiplication of oral bacteria. Using tobacco which contains numerous toxic compositions responsible for structural and functional changes in saliva. The use of tobacco products has been considered as the most important etiological factor in the development of oral cancer. The international agency for research of cancer has stated that there is sufficient evidence to show that tobacco is carcinogenic. Tobacco is consumed in various forms such as smoking, chewing, and snuff dipping. Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the alteration of salivary pH in smokers, chewers and healthy controls who visit the out patient department of our institution. Materials and methods: A total of 60 participants including above the age of 20 years to 50 years,out of which 20 smokers and 20 chewers and 20 healthy controls were included in the study and documented as group I,group II, group III respectively. The saliva of each subject was collected under resting conditions. Patient was instructed to spit the saliva for 2–3 times in 1 min in a disposable container. Measurement of the salivary pH was done immediately after collection using salivary pH meter. Data were analyzed by Kruskal Wallis test, ANOVA, Mann–Whitney test using SPSS 15. Results: The mean (�standard deviation) pH for smokers were 6.1(�0.13),chewers were 6.0 (�0.17), healthy controls were 7.1(�0.1).The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.05). Conclusion : Long‑term smoking significantly reduces the salivary pH. There was a significant decrease in salivary pH of tobacco chewers when compared to smokers.