The role of the saliva antioxidant barrier to reactive oxygen species with regard to caries development

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the antioxidant barrier in the saliva of children with caries, and its impact on the colonization of cariogenic bacteria.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 81 children aged 1–5 years. Antioxidant levels and salivary bacterial profiles were measured. Patients were divided into two groups as follows: initial stage decay, termed non-cavitated (1–2 in International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS)), and extensive decay, termed cavitated lesions (5–6 in ICDAS). The control group includes children without caries.Results: The linear regression model demonstrated that the GSH, GSSG, GSH/GSSG, and total antioxidant capacity levels are influenced (P < 0.05) by: the stage of caries and the dominant bacterial strain. Compared with the other groups (P < 0.001), the highest antioxidant parameters were recorded in the saliva of patients with cavitated lesions.Discussion: Our results indicate that the high levels of antioxidants in saliva increase significantly in children in line with the salivary cariogenic bacterial profiles and caries progression.