THE RELATION OF SALIVARY SODIUM, POTASSIUM, SOLIDS AND ASH CONCENTRATION TO DENTAL CARIES EXPERIENCE IN CHILDREN, 5 TO 6 AND 12 TO 14 YEARS OF AGE

¹ National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Bethesda, Md.

Whole, paraffin-stimulated saliva was collected from children aged 5 to 6 years (132 males, 106 females) and 12 to 14 years (188 males, 84 females). Least squares multiple regression equations were fitted relating the number of def or DMF teeth for each age and sex to the sodium and potassium concentrations, the log sodium-potassium ratio, and the per cent solids and ash. No significant relation was observed between the number of def or DMF teeth and the salivary constituents analyzed.

No significant sex differences were observed in the 5- to 6-year-old group, except for a slightly higher concentration of ash in the boys. In the 12- to 14-year-old group, the males showed a significantly higher sodium concentration, sodium potassium ratio, and per cent solids and ash than the females. No sex difference, however, was observed in the potassium concentration.

The sodium concentration, the sodium-potassium ratio and the per cent solids of the 12- to 14-year-old boys were significantly higher than those of the 5- to 6-year-old boys, whereas the potassium concentration was significantly lower. For girls, the only significant age change observed was an increase in the per cent solids.