Changes in Salivary pH After Application of Xylitol Toothpaste Using a Digital pH Meter: A Pilot Study

Padilla-Cáceres T.C.; Caballero-Apaza L.M.; Mamani-Cori V.; Cervantes-Alagón S.L.; Catacora-Padilla P.O. · Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies (2023) · DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-31007-2_7

Resumen

The fixed orthodontic treatment produces an accumulation of bacterial plaque in patients, which produces changes in the pH of saliva. The purpose of the study considered evaluating changes in saliva pH after the application of a commercial dentifrice with xylitol and cetylpyridinium chloride in a group of teenagers from Puno with fixed orthodontic appliances. A single-blind quasi-experimental study was performed. The sample was made of 34 patients of both sexes, with fixed orthodontic appliances who met the established criteria, all were instructed in a brushing technique and randomly assigned to one of two groups: experimental group, with 17 patients who used toothpaste with xylitol plus cetylpyridinium chloride, and control group, with 17 patients who used conventional fluoride toothpaste. A saliva sample was taken from both groups at the beginning of the study and at 3 and 5 weeks to assess the pH. The T-Student test found that salivary pH increased in patients who used toothpaste with xylitol plus cetylpyridinium chloride, reaching 7.45 in the fifth week with a statistically significant difference (˂0.0001). We conclude that toothpaste with xylitol and cetylpyridinium chloride improves salivary pH concerning the use of conventional toothpaste.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional del Altiplano