COMPARING SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF SALIVA IN SMOKING AND NONSMOKING YOUNG PEOPLE

It is known that low flow rate of saliva, high amount of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli, is active in formation and advance of cavities. The objective of this study is to research the relation between smoking and the flow rate of the saliva also the amount of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli among dental faculty students of ages between 21 and 26. For the study, two groups of 25 individuals each are formed among the students of Aegean University Dentistry Faculty. Group A consists of non-smokers who have never smoked before. Group B is selected as smoking group which smokes at least 3 years and has divided into two as Group B1 abd B2. Group B1 consists of individuals, who are smoking 10 or less cigarettes per day. Group B2 consists of individuals, who are smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day. After the clinical mouth examinings, the DMFT index of the individuals are decided. It has been taken care that the avarage DMFT values of the individuals in the studygroups are close to each other. The stimulated saliva samples of the mentioned studygroups are taken. First the flow rate, then the mutans steptococci and lactobacilli amounts of the stimulated salivas are calculated. In statistical analysis of the obtained data, Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests are used. The results are evaluated with the significance level of p 0,05. According to the result of the statistical assessments, smoking among dental faculty students of ages 21-26, has no statistical significant relation with flow rate of the saliva, mutans streptococci and lactobacilli values. In the case of regular oral hygene habit, the effect of smoking on the flow rate of the saliva, mutans streptococci and lactobacilli numbers has been evaluated. With the result of this study, it has been concluded that smoking does not have a statistical significant effect on the flow rate of the saliva, mutans streptococci and lactobacilli values for the individuals, processing regular and aware oral hygiene care. It is being believed that, in the case of regular oral hygene habit, smoking has no effect in formation of cavities. But the case for a longer time period smoking should be researched.