The role of the saliva antioxidant barrier to reactive oxygen species with regard to caries development.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the antioxidant barrier in the saliva of children with caries, and its impact on the colonization of cariogenic bacteria.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 81 children aged 1-5 years. Antioxidant levels and salivary bacterial profiles were measured. Patients were divided into two groups as follows: initial stage decay, termed non-cavitated (1-2 in International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS)), and extensive decay, termed cavitated lesions (5-6 in ICDAS). The control group includes children without caries.

RESULTS: The linear regression model demonstrated that the GSH, GSSG, GSH/GSSG, and total antioxidant capacity levels are influenced (P < 0.05) by: the stage of caries and the dominant bacterial strain. Compared with the other groups (P < 0.001), the highest antioxidant parameters were recorded in the saliva of patients with cavitated lesions.

DISCUSSION: Our results indicate that the high levels of antioxidants in saliva increase significantly in children in line with the salivary cariogenic bacterial profiles and caries progression.