EFFECT OF SMOKING ON SALIVARY FLOW RATE

Background: The smoke of tobacco during smoking is spread to all parts of the oral cavity and therefore, the taste receptors, a primary receptor site for salivary secretion, are constantly exposed. Generally it is accepted that long term use of tobacco decreases the sensitivity of taste receptors which in turn leads to depressed salivary reflex. Presumably, this might lead to altered taste receptors response and hence to changes in salivary flow rate. The present study was designed to document these changes, if any.Methodology: Subjects of the study were divided into smokers, and controls. Each group comprised of 20 healthy male adults. The saliva of each subject was collected under resting condition and following application of crude nicotine and citric acid solution to the tip of tongue.Results: After stimulation with both nicotine and citric acid, all subjects of each group showed a high increase in salivary flow rate. Salivary flow rates of smokers were not much different from that of non- smokers.Conclusion: Long-term smoking does not adversely affect the taste receptors response and hence salivary flow rate