International Journal of Oral Biology  2014;39(2):57-63

Cariogenic Activity in Saliva of Korean Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Hae Soon LIM 1 ; Kyung Yi CHUNG ; Ae Ok KIM ; Mi Ran KIM ; Youn Shin KIM ; Mi Sun KANG ; Jeong Won HONG ; Ji Yeon JUNG ; Ji Il PARK ; Guem Sug LEE

Affiliations

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Keywords

head and neck cancer patients; cariogenic activity; salivary pH; salivary flow rate

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and cariogenic activity using unstimulated saliva of the head and neck cancer patients. Twenty three cancer patients (19 males, 4 females) who had undergone chemotherapy and radiation therapy and twenty four healthy volunteers (14 males, 10 females) as a control were included. Salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and cariogenic activity using unstimulated saliva were examined. Compared to saliva of the control group, salivary flow rate (p<0.001) and salivary pH (p<0.001) were significantly lower in head and neck cancer patients. The colony counts of Lactobacilli was higher in head and neck cancer patients (p<0.05) than in control group. These salivary factors and cariogenic activity can increase the prevalence of dental caries in head and neck cancer patients.