Dryness of the Oral Cavity in the Salivary Status of Overweight Women

Abstract

Overweight is a public health problem that may raise general health complication. Excess weight people often have complaints about the state of oral health especially salivary secretions. Saliva is very important for human life, not only for mastication digesting food and also cleaning and lubricating the oral cavity. reduced salivary production can increase the prevalence of dental caries. It is known that people who are overweight have teeth with numbers of caries. it is suspected that the complaint of people who have overweight, may have feeling of dryness in the oral cavity. this can be the cause of poor oral hygiene. The aim of this research to know the difference of average amount status of saliva in women with normal weight, overweight and obesity. This research analitic study with cross-sectional design. Retrieval of unstimulated saliva was done with the method of draining at 60 persons: 20 persons normal weight, 20 persons overweight and 20 persons obesity. Salivary pH measurements using Hanna instruments and measurement of flow rate and volume using digital scales. The result of Kruskal-Wallis test showed that different significant status of saliva in women with normal weight, overweight and obesity. The conclusion of this research that overweight will influence oral cavity status of saliva. The higher of weight of an individual, getting lower of flow rate, volume and pH saliva. This condition may cause dry mouth and increase the prevalence of caries of the teeth.