Can Fluoride or Tri-calcium Phosphate Varnishes alter Salivary and Plaque pH in Athletes who Consume Soft Drinks?

Abstract

Background: Plaque and saliva pH are the main factors that facilitate the caries process. Consumption of acidic soft drinks is one of the factors responsible for pH changes in the oral cavity. Athletes commonly consume soft drinks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of two types of varnishes (fluoride and tri-calcium phosphate, TCP) on plaque and saliva pH of professional athletes who consume soft drinks. Methods: In this clinical study, 40 professional athletes aged 18-30 years were first randomly divided into two groups: Fluoride varnish (Sultan®, USA) and TCP varnish (3M®, ESPE, USA). At the first session, the baseline pH of plaque and saliva was measured using a plaque indicator kit (GC, USA) and pH meter (Hana, model AZ 8686, Italy). Then, the varnishes were applied. After 3 weeks, pH value of the participants was examined and varnishes were applied again, following by pH measurements at weeks 6 and 12. The data were analyzed using Repeated Measures ANOVA. Results: Applying fluoride varnish or TCP varnish did not cause any significant difference in saliva and plaque pH during the assessment periods (p>0.05).However, higher buffering capacity was observed among the athlete who had low pH at the baseline (p<0.05). Conclusion: Neither of the varnishes caused changes in plaque and saliva pH in this study. But the buffering capacity increased in athletes with low baseline pH.