Caries-protective factors in saliva.
Saliva influences caries attack mainly by its rate of flow and by its content of fluoride. The salivary flow rate influences to a high degree the rate of oral and salivary clearance of bacterial substrates included in foods and snacks. This influence is site-dependent. The basal salivary fluoride concentration is low, about 1 mumol/L, independent of salivary flow rate, and not influenced by diurnal variation. After an exposure of the oral cavity to fluoride, the increased fluoride level is decreased by a process influenced mainly by the salivary flow rate and the volumes of saliva in the mouth before and after swallowing. Other less important caries-protective factors in saliva include its buffer ability, its content of calcium, inorganic phosphate, pH-increasing substances, and anti-microbial agents.
Lagerlöf
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F
Department of Cariology, School of Dentistry, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
Oliveby
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A
D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005459:Fluorides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000502:physiology
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D005459:Fluorides