Mahsa Shabouei Jam; Yasaman Karbalaei; Seyede Solmaz Taheri; Bahareh Nazemi Salman
Abstract
Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly active radical that prevents the growth of oral bacteria by inhibiting their growth and increasing the cytotoxicity of salivary macrophages ...
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Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly active radical that prevents the growth of oral bacteria by inhibiting their growth and increasing the cytotoxicity of salivary macrophages as a non-specific defense mechanism. The aim of this study was to investigate the salivary NO concentration and its relationship with the DFS caries index and salivary pH in children.Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 177 children aged 4-12 years with different levels of DFS were selected. 2 ml of unstimulated saliva was collected from each child, and the pH and NO concentration of the collected saliva were measured using a pH meter and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, respectively. Statistical analyzes were done with the help of one-way analysis of variance and pairwise comparisons.Results: The mean concentration of salivary NO in children with severe caries (dfs>8) was significantly lower than in children with mild caries (dfs≤2) (p=0.008). The pH of saliva in children with severe caries (dfs>8) was significantly higher than in children with moderate caries (2 ≥dfs>8) (p=0.027), and in children aged 4-6, it was higher than in children aged 6-9(p=0.039).Conclusion: Increasing the amount of NO in saliva can decrease decay, as the production of nitrous oxide is actually the body's defense mechanism to neutralize the acids produced by decay-causing bacteria. Salivary pH decreases first and then increases with increasing caries.
