title: Preliminary findings on the correlation of saliva pH, buffering capacity, flow, Consistency and Streptococcus mutans in relation to cigarette smoking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine the relationship of caries risk, salivary buffering capacity, salivary pH, salivary quality (flow, consistency) and levels of Streptococcus mutans in relation to cigarette smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  This clinical  trial consisted of 53 volunteer patients receiving care in a university based dental hygiene clinic. Participants completed a questionnaire specific to their social history in regards to tobacco use, oral health and dietary history. Measurements of unstimulated saliva were collected followed  by collection of stimulated saliva samples. These samples were used to measure salivary pH, buffering capacity and Streptococcus mutans levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subject's smoking status was significantly associated with caries risk (p= 0.001), with 25% of the variability of caries risk  attributed to smoking. The smoking status was significantly associated with buffering capacity (p=0.025), with 9% of the variability of buffering status attributed to the smoking. Associations between smoking status and salivary pH were not statistically significant. The subject's caries risk  was significantly associated with buffering capacity (p= 0.001), with 25% of the variability of caries risk attributed to the buffering capacity. The subject's caries risk was significantly associated with salivary pH (p= 0.031), with 9% of the variability of caries risk attributed to the  salivary pH. The Streptococcus mutans test showed no statistical significance (p>0.05) possibly due to the number and low variance in the subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A relationship between caries risk and smoking, buffering capacity and smoking, and stimulated salivary pH and smoking  were concluded. No significance difference (p>0.05) between caries risk and salivary pH, salivary quality and smoking, S. mutans and smoking were noted from the preliminary results.
authors: Assistant professor at the Division of Dental Hygiene University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry.
authors: Marsha A
authors: MA
authors: Voelker
authors: Melanie
authors: M
authors: Simmer-Beck
authors: Molly
authors: M
authors: Cole
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: Keeven
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Tira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002021:Buffers; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility / Q000502:physiology; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005006:Ethnicity; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007347:Insurance, Dental; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009909:Oral Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014783:Viscosity; D014993:Xylitol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D009067:Mouthwashes; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D005459:Fluorides; D014993:Xylitol