Abstract
Objective Smoking induces changes in salivary pH and inflammatory biomarker levels associated
with oral diseases. This study examined the effect of alkaline oral rinse to modify
this effect of smoking on salivary study parameters.
Materials and Methods A double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) on systemically healthy smokers
was conducted. A total of 78 smokers, aged 18 to 40 years, were enrolled as per exclusion/inclusion
criteria. An alkaline mouthwash was provided to the intervention group and a placebo
to control group. Salivary pH and inflammatory biomarker interleukin (IL)-1β levels
were evaluated at baseline and at follow-up (14 ± 2 days).
Statistical Analysis Chi-squared test, independaent t-test, and paired t-test were used to observe the changes in parameters among and between groups before
and after intervention using SPSS v16 with a significance level of p≤0.050.
Results Sixty eight salivary samples were analyzed. All study parameters of the study sample
were statistically insignificant between both intervention and control groups at baseline.
pH level was 6.56 ± 0.53 at baseline and 6.62 ± 0.45 at follow-up in the intervention
group; respective values for control group were 6.70 ± 0.36 and 6.83 ± 0.44 and the
changes were not significant (p≥0.071). IL-1β level was 9.39 ± 10.23 pg/µL at baseline and 5.40 ± 6.62 pg/µL at a
follow-up in the intervention group and the change was significant (p = 0.001); respective values for the control group were 10.63 ± 11.50, and 9.33 ±
11.73 and the difference was nonsignificant (p = 0.076).
Conclusion This randomized trial indicated that sodium bicarbonate mouth rinse is effective
in decreasing IL-1β levels and increasing salivary pH favorable for prevention of
oral diseases.
Keywords
saliva - smokers - alkaline mouth wash - pH levels - Interleukin-1β
