EFFECT OF CHEWING GUM CONTAINING CALCIUM-FLUORIDE ON SALIVARY AND PLAQUE IN SITU

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of chewing gum containing calcium-fluoride, on the salivary fluoride concentration, pH, buffering capacity, flow rate, calcium concentration and total stim-ulation and plaque pH and fluoride concentration. Ten subjects (aged 8-12 years, 5 male-5 female) refrained from toothbrushing for 2 days. On the third day, they rinsed their mouth for 1 min with 10 ml of a 10 % sucrose solution. They started to chew either parafilm or one and two sticks of chewing gums for 10 min. Measurements of plaque pH and F- concentrations and salivary samples were evalua-ted. In all three experiment groups (parafilm group, one stick chewing gum and two sticks chewing gum groups), plaque pH, salivary flow rate and buffering capacity increased obviously. The most pro-nounced recovery of plaque pH was registered for two sticks of chewing gum and difference between the parafilm and chewing gum at 15 min was significant (p<0.05). Salivary pH values differences were statistically significant between the initial and 0-1 min at all groups (p<0.05). Salivary flow rate obvi-ously increased at 10 min in all groups while buffering capacity showed significant differences bet ween one and two sticks at initial and 55-60 min intervals (p<0.05). Chewing gum containing CaF highly increased Ca++ concentrations of saliva while there were no effect on F- concentrations