THE EFFECT OF SALIVARY CLEARANCE OF SUCROSE AND FLUORIDE ON HUMAN DENTAL PLAQUE ACIDOGENICITY

Ten subjects rinsed with a 20% (0.58 M) sucrose solution with or without 0.2% NaF (905 parts/10(6) F-) added in two separate experiments. Saliva and plaque were collected before rinsing and after 2, 5, 10 and 30 min. Sucrose and fluoride concentrations in saliva and acid anion and fluoride concentrations in plaque were analysed. There was a statistically significant and positive correlation between the concentration of sucrose in the saliva 2 min after the rinse and the subsequent concentrations of lactate in plaque at 10 and 30 min after the rinse with sucrose alone but not in the presence of fluoride. Salivary fluoride concentrations during 2-30 min after the sucrose rinse were significantly correlated with plaque fluoride concentrations during the same time. The addition of fluoride to the sucrose rinse significantly inhibited lactate production.