Effect of menopause on salivary parameters and dental caries status: A comparative study

Some researchers reported decreased salivary flow in post-menopausal women. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate salivary pH, buffering capacity, salivary flow rate and ICDAS scores in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women to assess their impact on oral health. Hence, 32 healthy women were included, with 16 pre-menopausal women (mean age 26 years) serving as the control group and 16 post-menopausal women (mean age 52 years) forming the study group. Saliva collection was standardized and salivary flow rate, pH and buffering capacity were measured using established methods, while ICDAS scores were assessed clinically. The results demonstrated a reduction in salivary flow rate and pH in post-menopausal women, along with higher ICDAS scores compared to the control group, although buffering capacity remained within normal limits. Thus, we show that decreased salivary flow in post-menopausal women may contribute to increased dental caries risk.