Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence and severity of ECC in 3 to 5 -year children in Lattakia and the correlation of saliva pH, buffer capacity and salivary flow rate with the dental caries. Materials and methods: An epidemiological
study of N = 400 children was conducted to determine the prevalence of ECC in Lattakia’s kindergartens and the association between child's gender, age and caries.The salivary tests for N = 40 children, the mean number of teeth, carious surfaces, restored and lost due to caries were measured. Results: The results indicated a high prevalence of Ecc among children (69.8%) We did not find significant differences in dmft, dmfs between children according to gender or age. The adjusted ability of saliva was high for 65% and medium for 35%. On the other hand, it was found that there is an inverse correlation between saliva pH and the studied indicators.
Because of the special importance of saliva in the field of dentistry, we have
discussed the relation between the dry mouth and the reduction of salivary flow
rate.
We have indicated in this study the adverse effects of smoking on the salivary
gl
ands and the relation between smoking and the dry mouth, on one hand, and
salivery flow rate on the ather.
We have also referred to some cases in which the indivedual feels the dryness of
the mouth in spite of the possibility of measuring salivary flow rate easily.
