RESUMO
Oral hygiene, saliva and its constituents have crucial role in the development of dental caries. AIM: To correlate the Total Antioxidant Level (TAL), pH and Flow Rate (FR) of unstimulated saliva with caries. DESIGN:sixty children aged 6-13 years attended to the department of Pedodontics were selected. Caries Active (CA, n=30) and Caries Free (CF, n=30). METHODOLOGY: Salivary antioxidant level estimated by Phosphomolybdenum method, pH by digital pH meter and FR measured in milliliter/minute. RESULTS:Total antioxidant level was significantly high in CA(0.19) than CF children (0.08), pH (CA: 5.96, CF: 7.13) and FR (CA: 0.32 ml/min, CF: 0.42 ml/min) were less in caries active and more in free group. CONCLUSION: Higher level of total antioxidant level, lower level of pH and FR among caries active children can be used as a caries risk indicator