The role of mechanical control of biofilm in the salivary pH after sucrose exposure in children with early childhood caries

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study sought to investigate if the mechanical control of biofilm (3-times-a-day) modifies the saliva’s ability to buffer the oral environment after 20% sucrose rinse (SR20%) in children with early childhood caries (ECC). Here, SR20% reduced the saliva’s pH in both groups and the mechanical control of biofilm had a greater effect on this parameter after SR20% in CF children. The mechanical control of biofilm evidenced a higher buffering capacity in CF children before SR20%, which was not observed after SR20%. Otherwise, the absence of mechanical control of biofilm showed that buffering capacity was comparable in the two groups before SR20%, whereas after SR20% the saliva’s buffering capacity of CF children was higher than ECC children. When biofilm was mechanically controlled, carbonic anhydrase VI activity did not change after SR20% whereas the absence of mechanical control of biofilm reduced this enzyme activity after SR20%. In conclusion, the mechanical control of biofilm did not change saliva’s ability to buffer the oral environment after SR20% in children with ECC. On the other hand, CF children appeared to regulate more effectively the saliva’s pH than ECC children while the absence of mechanical control of biofilm mediated their pH-modifying ability after SR20%.

Biofilm accumulation and sucrose rinse modulate calcium and fluoride bioavailability in the saliva of children with early childhood caries

“…Our null hypothesis was that after a sucrose rinse, biofilm accumulation would not modify the bioavailability of Ca 2+ , P i , and F − minerals differently in children with ECC as compared to caries-free children. Of note, this paper is an extension of a previously published study 12 .…”

“…Calcium concentration was significantly lower in the biofilm accumulation situation as compared with the mechanical control of the biofilm situation in both CF children and children with ECC. In the biofilm accumulation situation, these results can be explained by the metabolic profile (more saccharolytic) of the oral environment, which can promote an important variation on salivary parameters such as flow rate, pH, and buffering capacity 12 . Thus, the frequent pH fall may disrupt the equilibrium of calcium ions on the enamel surface and provide a coercive scenario for uptake of calcium ions from saliva.…”

“…As has been demonstrated recently 11 , sucrose rinse has a significant effect on the electrolytic concentration of P i and F − in saliva when children with ECC were compared with CF children. In addition, saliva's ability to neutralize the oral environment was different when children with ECC were compared with CF children, and this saliva potential was influenced by both sucrose exposure and biofilm accumulation 12 . This result may reflect the transient shift of the oral ecosystem after sucrose exposure and can be more deleterious for pH-modifying ability in children with ECC.…”

Sucrose rinse modulates the salivary behavior of carbonic anhydrase VI and its buffering capacity: a longitudinal study in 4 to 6.5-year-old children

“…This enzyme has been implicated in a high propensity to form dental biofilms dominated by aciduric and acidogenic species, increasing the risk of dental caries ( Esberg et al, 2019 ). Additionally, both the concentration ( Szabó, 1974 ; Kivelä et al, 1999b ; Oztürk et al, 2008 ; Picco et al, 2017 , 2019 ) and the enzymatic activity ( Frasseto et al, 2012 ; Cardoso et al, 2017 ; Borghi et al, 2017 ; Picco et al, 2017 , 2019 ; Lima-Holanda et al, 2021 ; de Sousa et al, 2021 ; de-Sousa, Lima-Holanda & Nobre-Dos-Santos, 2021 ) of CA VI in whole saliva have been correlated with caries experience. However, the reciprocal significance between them has not been fully understood.…”

Associations of the activity and concentration of carbonic anhydrase VI with susceptibility to dental caries: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…CA VI is suggested to participate in several essential activities affecting oral health, such as the caries process, periodontal problems, and the sensation of a bitter taste (Arabacı et al, 2015 ; Esberg et al, 2019 ; Kimoto et al, 2006 ; Patrikainen et al, 2014 ). In addition, CA VI is suggested to contribute to the neutralization of biofilm acids because such buffering is mainly performed by bicarbonate; this neutralization could assist in the prevention of dental caries (Lima‐Holanda et al, 2021 ). Of the salivary proteins, CA VI performs an important role in several physiological processes, particularly oral homeostasis and dental tissue protection, and has been described as relevant to dental caries dynamics (Piekoszewska‐Ziętek et al, 2017 ).…”