Salivary Flow Rate, pH and Buffering Capacity in Pregnant and Non Pregnant Women – A Comparative Study

The objective of this article is to evaluate salivary flow rate, pH and buffering capacity of saliva in pregnant and non pregnant women. The present study was a comparison between 30 pregnant women in their third trimester and 30 non pregnant women, in the age group of 19-34 years. The salivary flow, pH, and buffering capacity was measured using Saliva-check BUFFER kit (GC Corporation). Both unstimulated and paraffin stimulated saliva was measured for 5 min by asking the subjects to spit passively into a measuring jar provided in the kit. The pH and buffering capacity of unstimulated saliva was measured using a pH and buffering strips provided in the kit. Unpaired Student t test showed a statically significant increase in the salivary flow and a decrease in the pH and buffering capacity in the pregnant group when compare to the non pregnant group. The increase in the salivary flow rate in pregnant women could be attributed to the increase in the estrogen and progesterone concentration during pregnancy. The decrease in the pH and buffer capacity is due to the decrease in the plasma HCO3 ion concentration and an increase in α amylase concentration during pregnancy.