Dental Caries Experience in relation to Salivary flow rate, salivary pH among 5 Years Passive Smokers children in Tikrit City, Iraq

Abstract

Background: dental caries is the most prevalent oral disease that affecting oral cavity in all ages. Tobacco smoking have numerous negative effects on oral cavity including dental caries, periodontal disease. Also, numerous study reported that caries experience was higher among passive smokers group than control group. Aim of study: This study was conducted to assess the relation between dental caries and salivary flow rate, salivary pH among passive smokers 5 years children in Tikrit city/ Iraq. Materials and methods: 60 kindergarten children (28 girls, 32 boys) were included in this study. 30 children passive smokers group was compared with 30 children control group. caries experience was diagnosed and recorded according to criteria of decayed, missing and filling Surface index (dmfs index for primary teeth) (WHO, 2013). Stimulated salivary samples were collected for assessment of salivary flow rate and salivary pH. Results: Dental caries was higher among passive smokers children, the salivary flow rate was higher among control group than among study group with statistically no significant differences, also salivary pH was higher among control group than study group with statistically highly significant differences between these two group. Conclusion: The current study reported that dental caries was higher among passive smokers children, caries experience had no significant positive correlation with salivary flow rate and salivary pH. The lower salivary flow rate and salivary pH among passive smokers children lead to increase caries experience among them