ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Seventy million people are affected by gastroenteral (GI) disturbances throughout the world.
Oral cavity possesses various
bacteria that remain as healthy commensals or turn pathogenic due to shift of balance with disturbances in
health, which is reflected in the
oral cavity too. Studies have shown a possible oro-systemic link. This study aimed at assessing the effect of GI
disease on
oral health comparing levels of
pH, microbiological counts, and
oral health status between test and
control groups. MATERIALS AND
METHODS:
This
pilot study consisted of two groups test group containing 14 participants (GI
disease) and
control group (healthy) containing 3 participants. Two
saliva samples were collected per
patient. One sample was inoculated onto Mitis Salivarius and Rugose
agar plates at 37oC in the CO2
incubator for 2 days. The second sample was used for recording
pH.
Parameters such as
decayed, missing, and filled teeth, plaque
index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, and clinical loss of attachment were also recorded. The results were analyzed using Statistical Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.5.
Regression analysis was applied to predict the three-microbe
culture based on the
pH and GI
disease.
RESULTS:
The
oral health parameters showed a higher number of missing
teeth, higher
bleeding on probing, higher values of plaque and
gingival index, a higher amount of clinical loss of attachment, and acidic
pH of
saliva in the test group.
Microbiological analysis showed more
Streptococcus mutans in the
control group (7,500-10,000 cfu/mL), with a mean of 8,833.33±1,258.31 cfu/mL; S. salivarius was more in the test group (2,000-25,000 cfu/mL) with a mean of 15,866.67±6,697.76 cfu/mL.
Candida was seen only in the test group (2,166.67±2,549.51 cfu/mL) and absent in the
control group.
Lactobacillus was absent in both the groups.
CONCLUSION:
The present study suggests the relation between
oral health and GI
diseases. Hence,
saliva could be used as an easy, non-invasive
biomarker to analyze the gastroenteric status of the
patient.â©â©â©â©.
