Relationship between unstimulated salivary flow rate and saliva composition of healthy children in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Saliva is one of the most important factors in regulating oral health, with flow rate and composition changing throughout development and during disease. In view of the shortage of data, the present study aimed to shed light on the relationship between unstimulated salivary flow rate and saliva composition of healthy children in Taiwan.


METHODS
Forty-four normal, healthy children from 3-14 years of age were divided into three age groups: pre-school, elementary school and junior-high school. All participants received salivary flow rate, pH and saliva composition analysis under unstimulated conditions. One-way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation were used. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.


RESULTS
Our results suggest that, under unstimulated conditions, the salivary flow rate of the elementary school group was greater than that of the pre-school group (p < 0.05). No difference in pH was found among the three groups. Intergroup salivary calcium, phosphorus and amylase did not reach statistical difference. As the flow rate increased, the pH increased (r = 0.364, p < 0.05) but the protein level decreased (r = -0.473, p < 0.05). In addition, salivary protein was positively correlated to age (r = 0.479, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated to pH (r = -0.361, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Age-related increase in the unstimulated salivary flow rate of pre-school and elementary school groups was noted. As the flow rate increased, the pH increased but the protein level decreased. The information obtained may serve as reference values for the growing interest in saliva as a diagnostic tool, especially monitoring those with neurological or oral motor dysfunction.
Wu
Katie P
KP
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
Ke
Jyh-Yuh
JY
Chung
Chia-Ying
CY
Chen
Chia-Ling
CL
Hwang
Tsong-Long
TL
Chou
Ming-Yen
MY
Wong
Alice M K
AM
Hu
Ching-Fang
CF
Lee
Yu-Cheng
YC
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D012212:Rheology; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D013624:Taiwan