title: Salivary Parameters (Salivary Flow, pH and Buffering Capacity) in Stimulated Saliva of Mexican Elders 60 Years Old and Older.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare a limited array of chewing-stimulated saliva features (salivary flow, pH and buffer capacity) in a sample of elderly Mexicans with clinical, sociodemographic and socio-economic variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out in 139 adults, 60 years old and older, from two retirement homes and a senior day care centre in the city of Pachuca, Mexico. Sociodemographic, socio-economic and behavioural variables were collected through a questionnaire. A trained and standardized examiner obtained the oral clinical variables. Chewing-stimulated saliva (paraffin method) was collected and the salivary flow rate, pH and buffer capacity were measured. The analysis was performed using non-parametric tests in Stata 9.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 79.1 ± 9.8 years. Most of the subjects included were women (69.1%). Mean chewing-stimulated salivary flow was 0.75 ± 0.80 mL/minute, and the pH and buffer capacity were 7.88 ± 0.83 and 4.20 ± 1.24, respectively. Mean chewing-stimulated salivary flow varied (p < 0.05) across type of retirement home, tooth brushing frequency, number of missing teeth and use of dental prostheses. pH varied across the type of retirement home (p < 0.05) and marginally by age (p = 0.087); buffer capacity (p < 0.05) varied across type of retirement home, tobacco consumption and the number of missing teeth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These exploratory data add to the body of knowledge with regard to chewing-stimulated salivary features (salivary flow rate, pH and buffer capacity) and outline the variability of those features across selected sociodemographic, socio-economic and behavioural variables in a group of Mexican elders.
authors: Academic Area of Dentistry, Health Sciences Institute, Autonomous University, Hidalgo State, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Islas-Granillo
authors: DEPeI School of Dentistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, México, DF.
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Borges-Yañez
authors: Avenida Álamo # 204, Fraccionamiento Paseo de los Solares, Colonia Santiago Tlapacoya, CP. 42110, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo, México. cemedinas@yahoo.com.
authors: C E
authors: CE
authors: Medina-Solís
authors: Academic Area of Chemistry, Basic Sciences and Engineering Institute, Autonomous University of Hidalgo State, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico.
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Galan-Vidal
authors: Academic Area of Dentistry, Health Sciences Institute, Autonomous University, Hidalgo State, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico.
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Navarrete-Hernández
authors: Faculty of Dentistry, Autonomous University of Yucatan, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Escoffié-Ramirez
authors: Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; The Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Maupomé