Alterations in the Mineral Contents of Oral Fluids due to Smoking Habits and Possible Relations with Oral Diseases

J. ABRAHAM; HECTOR JORGE SANCHEZ; M.S. GRENÓN; M.C. VALENTINUZZI

Arica (Chile)

Congreso; SARX 2006; 2006

Smoking habits can significantly alter the physical and chemical state of the mouth. At the same time, it can produce systemic changes like a worsening of the immunological system for example. Any oral or systemic affection can have repercussion in the organic compounds of oral fluids via alterations in the protein and enzymatic contents, then, it was pointed out these fluids are potential diagnosis tools for several diseases. In this way, changes in the mineral content would be in connection with that organic activity. Discrepancies from normal values are expected to be consequences of the developing or initiation of illness promoted by smoking habits. For example, the high Ca level in saliva could indicate a periodontitis development. Periodontitis is a chronic oral disease which smoker subjects of long time are very prone to suffer it. In other way, an abnormal K concentration is related to some heart affections. In this work, the elemental concentrations of saliva and gingival fluid of two groups of patients, smoker and non-smokers, were studied and compared between them with the aim of determine the notable changes in those values. Statistical treatment on the results by one-way ANOVA analysis was done with the purpose to determine the elements that possibly are related to the habit of smoking or to some periodontal disease. The measurements were performed using total x-ray reflection method with synchrotron beam. Main features found were corroborated with previous works and more elements were studied than reported before in the bibliography. These results are discussed.