ABSTRACT
AIM: This study was to evaluate saliva parameters of identical and non identical twins with their dental caries and oral hygiene status. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the oral health status and investigate the salivary parameters of identical and nonidentical twins in Kodhini Village, Kerala. The WHO Oral Health Assessment Form was used to record the oral health status. The Simplified Oral Hygiene Index and Gingival Bleeding Index were also included. Unstimulated saliva was collected. Immunoglobulin A levels in saliva was estimated by Turbidimetric Immunoassay. Salivary Cortisol was analysed using ELISA method. For TAC thiobarbituric acid reactive from Fenton's reaction. RESULTS: Since the absolute difference of the salivary parameters between the pairs of twins was not symmetrically distributed, we report median and interquartile range to describe these differences. There were no observed significant variations in the above salivary parameters. CONCLUSION: The similarity in their environmental factors as well as perhaps the similar genetic predisposition on salivary factors has led to the similarity in the dental caries experience in these twin children.
ABSTRACT
The medicinal role of garlic (Allium sativum), has been recognized since ancient times. Antimicrobial activity is one of the various medicinal properties associated with garlic. This property makes garlic a potential anticariogenic agent in protecting against Streptococcus mutans, which is acidogenic, aciduric and cariogenic in the oral cavity. The salivary pH is therefore a reflection of caries activity, being inversely proportional. The hypothesis of this study was that the use of garlic incorporated mouthwashes may be an effective strategy in resisting decrease in the salivary pH and thus exhibit cariostatic effect. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the effects of garlic, as a mouthwash, on the salivary pH as against a commercially popular mouthwash, chlorhexidine, and a combination of the two, in caries active and caries resistant individuals. The study subjects were grouped into four groups: garlic group, chlorhexidine group, combination group (garlic combined with chlorhexidine) and control group (water rinse) and these were further subdivided into caries active and caries resistant subgroups. The results show that the best benefits were obtained from the combination mouthwash in the caries active subgroup. Individually, the garlic and chlorhexidine mouthwashes were also effective in preventing substantial drops in salivary pH, post-glucose mouth rinse, in both subgroups. Interestingly, the pH values obtained after rinsing just with water fared second best among the four groups and being very close to the combination mouthwash, confirming the benefits of plain water in accordance with the principles of “hydrotherapy”.