INFLUENCE OF NUTRITION NATURE ON ACID-BASE BALANCE IN THE MOUTH AND THE RISK OF DENTAL DISEASES

Abstract

The aim was to investigate the acid-base balance in the mouth and assess the risk of dental disease in practically healthy persons depending on the habitual diet. Materials and methods: The study involved 162 people, divided into three groups: with a mixed diet, with protein foods of animal origin and vegetarians. There were studied the pH value of oral fluid, dental, lingual plaque at stimulation with sucrose and urea. Results: In individuals, characterized by the habitual diet, there are statistically significant persistent changes in acid-base balance in the mouth, which provoke an increased risk of developing dental diseases. At normal mixed diet there is moving the acid-base balance towards weak acidosis that in the presence of other predisposing factors can lead to the risk of development of dental caries. There is a displacement of acid-base balance in the oral cavity to the alkaline side in case the long predominant consumption of protein foods of animal origin, that is dangerous in terms of formation of hard dental deposits and consequently of the development of inflammatory periodontal diseases. In vegetarians, there is a persistent shift of acid-alkaline balance in the mouth in the direction of acidosis, which is a risk factor for development of dental caries.