Salivary pH as an improvement parameter in patients with periodontitis: A pilot study

Background: The pH is a chemical parameter of saliva widely studied at present, its normal range is between 6.5 and 7.2. Its alteration has been linked to different oral pathologies, such as periodontal diseases. The purpose of this study was to identify the usefulness of salivary pH measurement as an indicator of improvement in patients with periodontitis and to estimate its possible relationship with the biofilm index and the number of periodontal pockets. Methods: A descriptive-comparative pilot study was conducted on forty adult patients; one group was conformed by twenty patients with gingivitis and the second one by twenty patients with chronic periodontitis. In both groups was determined the biofilm index, was performed periodontal probing and a salivary sample was taken for salivary pH measurement, before and after periodontal treatment. Results: the results showed that of 20 periodontitis patients evaluated, 6 (30%) had an initial alkaline pH greater than 7,6 and a moderate positive relationship with the biofilm index was observed (r=0.5277). After treatment, 15(75%) periodontitis patients and 14 (70%) gingivitis patients presented a decrease in this parameter. Conclusions:  there is a variation in the salivary pH after periodontal treatment tending to its restoration, this probably occurs in response to periodontal tissue repair, therefore, pH is a salivary parameter that has potential for monitoring patients with periodontal disease.