title: Effect of dietary combinations on plaque pH recovery after the intake of pediatric liquid analgesics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of water, halloumi cheese and sugar-free (SF) chewing gum on plaque pH recovery after the intake of sweetened PLAs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 17 children (10 females, 7 males) aged 11-12 years with DFT/dft of more than 3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each volunteer tested paracetamol and ibuprofen suspension alone or followed with water, halloumi cheese or SF gum, as well as 10% sucrose and 10% sorbitol as controls. Plaque pH was measured using the sampling method before and after 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 min of ingestion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance followed by least significant difference test to assess minimum pH (min pH), maximum pH drop (ΔpH), and the area under baseline pH, and P value was set as 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both ibuprofen and paracetamol were not significantly different from 10% sucrose in terms of min pH, ΔpH, and area under baseline pH except for min pH of ibuprofen (P = 0.034). Water and halloumi cheese did not have a significant effect on plaque pH recovery after the intake of both analgesics as min pH, ΔpH, and area under baseline pH were similar to 10% sucrose except for min pH of ibuprofen + water (P = 0.048). However, plaque pH variables after chewing SF gum for 20 min were similar to 10% sorbitol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chewing SF gum immediately after the intake of sweetened PLAs for 20 min restores plaque pH and could be recommended as a complementary aid in caries prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
authors.forename: Shaam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bshara
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Damascus University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trak
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Orofacial Orthopedics, Damascus University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
authors.forename: Ghiath
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
keywords: Halloumi cheese; pediatric liquid analgesics; plaque pH; sugar; sugar-free gum; water