The Effect of Tobacco Smoking on Salivation.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the detrimental effect of smoking on the function of the salivary glands.


METHODS
The study was conducted on 60 patients who were divided into two groups: a test group which included smokers and control group represented by non-smokers. Each group included 30 patients. General information was collected from all the respondents via a questionnaire as well as the data on the duration of smoking and number of cigarettes smoked per day. Saliva was collected by spitting method in a graduated tube and the amount of unstimulated and stimulated saliva was measured and recorded in ml per minute. Stimulated saliva was collected immediately after rinsing the mouth with a 2% aqueous solution of citric acid which is carried salivary stimulation. The presence of pigmentation on the teeth and coated tongue were recorded during clinical examination. The degree of oral hygiene was determined by plaque index. All the obtained data were statistically analyzed with significance level p <0.05.


RESULTS
The results showed no significant differences in the amount of saliva between smokers and non-smokers, however, the amount of saliva decreases significantly with the duration of smoking and increasing age of smokers. Also proven was the difference in the quality of saliva: smokers have thick saliva and nonsmokers predominantly serous. In addition, smokers have poorer oral hygiene status than non-smokers, and demonstrated a positive correlation between the level of oral hygiene and length of smoking tobacco.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has proven that smoking adversely affects salivation: long-term smoking reduces the secretion of saliva and changes its quality.
Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Gundulićeva 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Nikolina
N
Petrušić
Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Gundulićeva 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Martina
M
Posavac
Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Ivan
I
Sabol
Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Gundulićeva 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Marinka
M
Mravak-Stipetić
Saliva; Salivation; Smoking; Tobacco Use Disorder; Xerostomia
Head Neck. 2007 Jul;29(7):648-54
17274058
J Clin Diagn Res. 2014 Jan;8(1):211-3
24596777
Oncology. 2006;71(1-2):10-7
17344667
Acta Odontol Scand. 1964 Feb;22:121-35
14158464
Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2004 Nov;96(11):773-83
15584851
Br J Cancer. 2004 Jul 5;91(1):111-8
15162153
Auton Neurosci. 2011 Apr 26;161(1-2):81-6
21300575
J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2003 Oct-Dec;15(4):37-9
15067831
J Dent Res Dent Clin Dent Prospects. 2010 Fall;4(4):110-4
23346336
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1993 Sep 20;694:72-7
8215087
Oral Oncol. 2013 Oct;49(10):1010-7
23948049
Adv Dent Res. 2000 Dec;14:40-7
11842922
Niger Med J. 2013 Jul;54(4):240-3
24249949
J Periodontol. 1978 Sep;49(9):480-2
281495
Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2004 Jul;78(3):647-52
15251274