title: The Influence of Pregnancy on Sweet Taste Perception and Plaque Acidogenicity.
abstract: Objectives Women undergo different physiological and oral changes during pregnancy and this may increase the risk of dental caries and other oral diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in biofilm acidogenicity and correlate them to sweet taste perception in pregnant and non-pregnant women. Methods Three groups of Saudi women participated in this cross-sectional study: (1) women in early pregnancy (n = 40/mean age 29.6 years/DMFT 10.7), (2) women in late pregnancy (n = 40/29.5 years/DMFT 10.8) and (3) non-pregnant women (n = 41/27.7 years/DMFT 12.3). Changes in plaque pH were determined by using colour-coded indicator strips before and after a 1-min rinse with a 10% sucrose solution. A taste perception test determining sweet preference and threshold levels was also performed. Results A significant difference regarding plaque pH was seen between the early, late and non-pregnant women when calculated as the area under the curve (p < 0.05). Regarding the taste perception tests, taste preference and threshold were correlated (p < 0.001, r = 0.6). Between the three groups, a statistically significant difference was seen in taste threshold and taste preference respectively (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001). Conclusions The findings in this study suggest that pregnant women may undergo taste changes and experience lower plaque pH, which may result in an increased risk of dental caries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sonbul
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. heba.ashi@odontologi.gu.se.|Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 450, Gothenburg, Sweden. heba.ashi@odontologi.gu.se.
authors.forename: H
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6691-9317
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aljahdali
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Microsurgery and Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.|WHO Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology and Preventive Dentistry, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campus
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.|WHO Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology and Preventive Dentistry, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lingström
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D055697:Taste Perception
keywords: Dental caries; Plaque pH; Pregnancy; Saudi Arabia; Taste perception