Abstract

ANALYSIS OF SALIVARY pH IN NON TOBACCO USERS AND TOBACCO USERS ASSOCIATED WITH LESION

Sarah Sathiyawathie and Uma Maheswari T.N*

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND- Salivary pH plays an important role in monitoring, regulating and maintain the equilibrium in the oral cavity. It behaves as a buffer system, protecting the oral cavity from colonization of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms and neutralises the acid produced by acidogenic bacteria. This study is done to emphasise the change in salivary pH in tobacco users. AIM- To determine whether there is any change in salivary pH among non tobacco users and tobacco users with /without lesion. OBJECTIVE- To find whether there is any impact on salivary pH in tobacco users without lesion, tobacco users with potentially malignant disease and in oral carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHOD- 40 male subjects in the age group of 20-60 where included in the study. They were divided as 10 non tobacco users, 10 tobacco users without lesion, 10 potentially malignant diseases and 10 oral carcinoma. Results- A decrease in the salivary pH levels was observed in tobacco users without lesion, potentially malignant disease and oral carcinoma patients when compared to non-tobacco users. CONCLUSION- Based on these results, it can be assumed that there exists a clear and a significant association between salivary pH and tobacco usage.

Keywords: non tobacco users, tobacco users, potentially malignant disease, oral carcinoma, salivary pH.