Evaluation of Some Caries-Related Factors in the Saliva of 3-5 Year Old Children in Sari, Northern Iran

Background: Dental caries is one of the most common oral diseases in pre-school children. Several factors can affect caries process. Aim of this study was comparison of some of the chemical properties of saliva such as total antioxidant capacity, total protein, pH, nitric oxide level in caries free (CF), and caries active (CA) children. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional based study was designed with random selection of 80 healthy population including 40 CF and 40 CA children (3-5 years old) from several public kindergartens in Sari, Iranin 2019. Caries status was assessed using DMFT (Decayed/Missing/Filled Teeth) index according to WHO criteria. Un-stimulated saliva samples were collected from children in the morning. Then, several caries-related factors including total antioxidant capacity, nitric oxide, total protein concentration and pH were assessed in saliva samples. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16.0. Results: Significant higher total antioxidant capacity and total protein concentration were observed in the saliva of CA than in the CF children. On the other hand, nitric oxide level was markedly lower in CA samples. In addition, a decrease in pH of saliva was observed in CA children. Conclusion Based on the results, increase in the total antioxidant capacity and total protein as well as decrease in nitric oxide levels in the saliva of CA children can be considered as valuable evidence of dental caries occurrence among children.