The Connection Between Saliva Dental Caries and Perio

One of the most prevalent risk factors I see in patients is low saliva flow. Low saliva flow is the number one self-reported risk factor in our data base of nearly 13,000 patients. 63% of these patients self-report dry mouth or low saliva. When beginning the conversation with patients, starting with saliva is smart.

An interesting study that came out in December looked at saliva flow and its relationship to dental caries and periodontal disease:

by Dr. V Kim Kutsch

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between stimulated salivary flow rate and oral health status in an adult population. Multinomial multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations of salivary flow rate with dental caries status and periodontal status at the individual level among 2,110 Japanese adults with ≥10 teeth. Then, a spline model was used to examine the nonlinear relationship between salivary flow rate and teeth with dental caries or periodontal disease in multilevel analysis. Odds ratios were calculated for a 1.0-mL/min reduction in salivary flow rate at a point.

After adjusting for confounding variables, participants with a flow rate ≤3.5 mL/min had significantly higher odds ratios for high caries status, and participants with a flow rate ≤1.4 mL/min had a higher odds ratio for broad periodontal disease, than did those with a flow rate >3.5 mL/min. In spline models, the odds ratio for teeth with dental caries or periodontal disease increased with reduced saliva secretion. The present findings suggest that decreased saliva secretion affects both dental caries and general periodontal health status. (Shimazaki Y, Fu B, Yonemoto K, Akifusa S, Shibata Y, et al. Stimulated salivary flow rate and oral health status. J Oral Sci. 2016 Dec 28. 2110 Japan Ad >10 teeth).

So, not only does decreased saliva flow impact risk for dental caries, but also risk for periodontal disease.