The Relationship between the Salivary pH, Flow Rate, and the Number of Oral Streptococci in Elementary School Age Children

摘要

Salivary pH, flow rate, and the number of oral Streptococci play a role in the occurrence of diseases in the children's oral cavity. Monitoring of salivary pH, flow rate, and the number of oral Streptococci is essential in preventing caries in children and will be able to provide appropriate educational efforts towards children and their parents. The study was aimed to analyze the relationship between salivary pH, flow rate, and the number of oral Streptococci in elementary school age children. A descriptive survey. Research population was elementary school students aged 9 – 10-yearsold. The sampling method was total sampling. The research sample was as much as 30 people. Saliva was collected for 10 minutes. Measurement of the pH value was performed using a pH meter. The salivary flow rate was counted by the saliva volume/collection time formula. Salivary volume was collected by a salivary tube with a volume assessment indicator issued by the Gc Buffer? strip. Oral Streptococci was counted by calculating the cultured colonies on blood agar plates using a bacteria colony counter. Data analysis was performed using statistical software and Spearman correlation statistical tests to see the relationships between variables. Average salivary pH was 7.1, the salivary flow rate was 0.17, and the number of oral Streptococci was 108 — the relationship tests between all three variables were found to be higher than 0.05 (p-value > 0.05). No relationship was found between the salivary pH, flow rate, and the number of oral Streptococci in elementary school age children.