Changes in the salivary electrolytic dynamic after sucrose exposure in children with Early Childhood Caries

This study sought to explore if the effect of 20% sucrose rinse (SR) on the salivary electrolytic concentration of calcium (Ca²⁺), phosphate (Pi) and fluoride (F^-) in children with Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is different from healthy children. Here, fifty-eight  preschoolers aged 3 to 5 years were divided into 2 groups: caries-free (CF) and with ECC. Changes in saliva flow rate, pH and buffering capacity (BC), as well as in concentrations of Ca²⁺, Pi, and F^-, and the degree of saturation in relation to hydroxyapatite (DSS HAp) and fluorapatite (DSS FAp) were evaluated. The pre-rinse [Ca²⁺] was higher in the ECC group in the CF group. A significant increase in [Ca²⁺] was demonstrated after SR in the CF group (p = 0.05). The [Pi] was reduced by 18% after SR in the ECC group (p = 0.007). The [F^-] reduced in both groups after SR (p < 0.000). There was a moderate positive correlation between [Ca²⁺] and the DSS HAp and DSS FAp. Multivariate analysis showed that children with a higher [Ca²⁺] in pre-rinse saliva are more likely to have ECC. In conclusion, the effect of a 20% sucrose rinse on the electrolytic concentration of Ca²⁺, Pi and F^- was different when children with ECC were compared with CF children.