title: Alkali production in the mouth and its relationship with certain patient's characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationships among alkali production, diet, oral health behaviors, and oral hygiene.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 52 subjects including demographics, diet, and oral hygiene scores were analyzed against the level of arginine and urea enzymes in plaque and saliva samples. An oral habit survey was completed that included: use of tobacco (TB), alcohol (AH), sugary drinks (SD), and diet. Alkali production through arginine deiminase (ADS) and urease activities were measured in smooth-surface supragingival dental plaque and un stimulated saliva samples from all subjects. ADS and urease activities were measured by quantification of the ammonia generated from the incubation of plaque or saliva samples. Spearman correlations were used to compute all associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants in the lowest SES (Socio-economic status) group had the habit of consuming sugary drinks the most and had the highest rate of tobacco use. Males consumed significantly more alcohol than females. No significant relationship was found between age or gender and alkali production. Higher rates of sugary drink consumption and tobacco use were significantly related to lower alkali production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed a relationship between alkali production and oral hygiene, diet, and certain oral health behaviors. Poor oral hygiene was significantly associated with age, lower SES, tobacco use, and alcohol, and sugary drinks consumption. Clinical relevance Certain oral health behaviors have an impact on oral hygiene and on alkali production; it is important to address these factors with patients as a strategy for caries control.
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Valeria Veiga
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Gordan
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah Landry
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: McEdward
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Marc Edward
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ottenga
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia Wilson
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Garvan
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Pearl Ann
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000468:Alkalies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000009:adverse effects; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000737:chemistry*; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014510:Urease / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies; D002241:Carbohydrates; D006867:Hydrolases; D014510:Urease; C019723:arginine deiminase