@Article{, title={The effect of nutritional status on dental caries in relation to salivary flow rate, pH, inorganic phosphorus, calcium, copper and lead among five years old kindergarten children}, author={Ban S. Diab and Zaid S. Hasan}, journal={Journal of baghdad college of dentistry مجلة كلية طب الاسنان بغداد}, volume={22}, number={3}, pages={119-122}, year={2010}, abstract={ABSTRACT
Background: Malnutrition in human life may adversely affect various aspects of growth and increase the severity of
oral problems at different stages of life. Teeth and salivary glands are particularly sensitive to malnutrition. That may
reduce salivary protective components that may increase caries incidence. This study was conducted among
malnourished kindergarten children aged 5 years in comparison to well-nourished group to determine the
occurance and severity of dental caries in relation to salivary flow rate, pH, inorganic phosphorus, calcium, copper
and lead.
Material and methods: This study was conducted among 84 malnourished and 89 well-nourished children aged 5
years. The assessment of nutritional status was done by using three nutritional indicators, namely Height-for-age,
Weight-for-age and Weight-for-height. Diagnosis of severity of dental caries was recorded through the application of
dmfs index. The stimulated saliva was collected to determine salivary flow rate, pH, inorganic phosphorus, calcium,
copper and lead.
Results: The results reveled that the mean values of dmfs were found to be higher among malnourished respectively
than well-nourished groups respectively, but with no significant difference (P> 0.05). A positive statistically significant
correlation was observed between dmfs and ds and salivary lead for well-nourished group. No significant correlation
was recorded between the salivary flow rate and the salivary pH and all the salivary elements in malnourished group.
Nevertheless, a positive significant correlation was detected for the salivary flow rate and salivary pH and salivary
inorganic phosphorus in well-nourished group.
Conclusion: Malnutrition affect on increase dental caries experience and reducing salivary flow rate, pH, inorganic
phosphorus, calcium, copper and lead.
Keywords:Malnutrition, dental caries, stimulated salivary element. (J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2010;22(3):119-122).

} }