Salivary cortisol and mutans streptococci in saliva of abuse substance patients

Introduction & Objective: The aim evaluate the relationship between salivary cortisol and viable count of mutans streptococci. in abuse patient.by using cobass device to determine level of salivary cortisol in two group and count colony of bacteria mutans streptococci (CFU/ml) by identification and culturing method. Methods: This study included a sample of 86 participants  aged 17–30 years old from divided two group Patients group consist of (43)form Ibn rushd  psychiatric hospital and and controls group that consist of (43) chosen randomly 86 person were examined for drug abuse by urine drug line test to confirm positive and negative result for participant ,after Centrifuge at 3000 for 10 min for saliva collection Supernatant store in deep freeze -20 ºC and then used to Estimation of salivary cortisol level after that corelated with count of mutan streptococci in each participant. Results:   The comparison between the Salivary Cortisol levels in the Drug Abusers and the Control groups demonstrated a higher concentration of Cortisol in the Drug Abusers group. When correlated, the Salivary Cortisol levels of two groups with Mutans Streptococci found a positive relationship, while in the Control group, the relationship was negative and non-significant. Conclusions: The participants in the drug abusers group were experiencing withdrawal, as a result, we observed a higher concentration of salivary cortisol in comparison to the control group, this increase in cortisol levels led to an increase in the number of Mutansstreptococci compared to the control group.