Effect of chewing (neem) and (tulsi) leaves on salivary acidogenicity: A comparative study.

BACKGROUND

Dental caries is an infectious disease affecting majority of children in the modern world. An acidogenic diet brings down plaque pH, leading to dental caries. However, certain foods bring about rapid reversal of plaque pH after an acidogenic challenge. and leaves which are anticariogenic show promise in this regard.

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the salivary pH reversal phenomenon by chewing and leaves after an acidogenic challenge.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty caries-free children were selected and randomly divided into two groups. The resting salivary pH and salivary pH after eating chocolate was measured using a pH meter at time intervals of 5, 30 and 60 min. The children were then instructed to chew and leaves after chocolate consumption, and salivary pH was again measured at 5, 30 and 60 min. The change in salivary pH was assessed.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The data obtained were analyzed using Student's -test (two tailed, dependent) to find the significance of the study parameters. The level of significance was set at < 0.05.

RESULTS

Chewing and leaves after chocolate consumption increased salivary pH to statistically significant values at 5, 30 and 60 min.

CONCLUSION

The observations of the study show that chewing of and leaves reversed the drop in salivary pH levels after an acidogenic challenge.