title: Long-term effect of tobacco on unstimulated salivary pH.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the effects of tobacco on salivary pH between tobacco chewers, smokers and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 subjects (males and females) aged 25-40 years, were divided equally into three groups: Tobacco smokers (Group A), chewers (Group B) and controls (Group C). Saliva of each subject was collected under resting condition. Salivary pH was determined using the specific salivary pH meter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (±standard deviation) pH for Group A was 6.75 (±0.11), Group B was 6.5 (±0.29) and Group C was 7.00 (±0.28) after comparison. The significant results showed lower salivary pH in Groups A and B as compared to controls. Salivary pH was lowest in Group B compared to Group A and Group C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that a lower (acidic) salivary pH was observed in tobacco users as compared with control. These alterations in pH due to the long-term effect of tobacco use can render oral mucosa vulnerable to various oral and dental diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, D. J. College of Dental Sciences and Research, Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, D. J. College of Dental Sciences and Research, Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, D. J. College of Dental Sciences and Research, Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Shamindra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, D. J. College of Dental Sciences and Research, Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sanjeet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, D. J. College of Dental Sciences and Research, Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Nishant
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, D. J. College of Dental Sciences and Research, Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Harjeet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaur
keywords: Salivary pH; tobacco; unstimulated saliva