inorganic components of saliva Flashcards
why is H+ the most important constituent of saliva (despite not being a true inorganic component)
its concentration determines pH of oral environment
typical salivary pH in adults
6 - 7.4 but varies according to salivary flow
babies = more alkaline
why is pH important
- salivary enzymes only operate in a restricted pH range = optimal pH
- for determining solubility behaviour of other salivary proteins which precipitate onto tooth surface when pH is equal to their isoelectric point at which they have no net charge
- maintaining ionic product for HAp
what dental disease are protons key to
CARIES
they drive HAP dissolution
what does pH fall to following carbohydrate intake and why
as low as 4.5
- fermentation of carbohydrates by plaque microorganisms generating organic acids
why is pH important for HAP (mineral component of teeth)
- HAP is an inorganic calcium phosphate salt
- it dissolves below critical pH of 5.5
- so some dissolution of mineral occurs each time we ingest sugary food (demin)
how is the plaque pH restored to neutrality following sugar intake
salivary buffering (takes around 20-40 minutes for pH to be restored to value above critical pH) salivary components play key role in this gradual restoration to neutrality
what happens when salivary buffering takes place
1) demin reversed
2) new mineral precipitated
3) so teeth can repair themselves if conditions are favourable
4) THIS IS REMIN
what data is crucial to understanding the caries process
stephan curves / response
what happened when - imfeldt coworkers (1977)
1) chewed wax for 3 minutes then rinsed mouth with a 0.025% sucrose solution
neutral pH initially
plaque falls to 5.5 pH after sucrose
salivary buffering means plaque pH rises
pH rise accelerated when chew wax again
what happened when - imfeldt coworkers (1977)
2) then chewed wax for 3 minutes then rinsed mouth with a 1.25% sucrose solution
sugar rinse more concentrated
plaque falls to even lower pH of 4.5
again restored almost to neutrality by chewing wax
what happened when - imfeldt coworkers (1977)
3) then chewed wax for 3 minutes then rinsed mouth with a 2.5% sucrose solution
3rd sucrose rinse
plaque pH falls dramatically
even after chewing wax pH only rises to 6.5
what happened when - imfeldt coworkers (1977)
4) chewed wax for 3 minutes then rinsed mouth with a 5% sucrose solution
BUT then given 3% urea sample
predictable pH fall to almost pH 4
urea increases pH by conversion to ammonia
plaque pH restored to neutrality
what happened when - imfeldt coworkers (1977)
5) chewed wax for 3 minutes then rinsed mouth with a 10% sucrose solution
BUT then given 3% urea sample
pH falls to below 4 and remained low
rapidly reversed by urea solution
pH restored to neutrality
what does data from the imfeldt coworkers (1977) experiment illustrate
1) effect of giving microorganisms access to fermentable carohydrates
2) consequences - pH dec
3) HAP mineral dissolves below pH 5.5, longer it remains below = more tooth mineral lost
4) higher conc of sucrose = lower resulting plaque pH
5) stimulation of saliva incs its buffering capacity
6) telomeric measurement = an important research tool when determining cariogenic potential of food
as salivary flow rate increases…
salivary buffering also increases
what is the general rule of saliva pH
increase flow rate = increase pH
- pH of saliva varies with flow rate
- higher flow rates increase salivary buffering
what happens when saliva is stimulated
- the higher the flow rate the higher the resulting pH
- higher flow rate neutralises acidic pH more quickly
what ions are the most important buffer in saliva
BICARBONATE (HCO3^-)
important buffer at HIGH flow rates
where are bicarbonate ions produced
striated epithelium of the secretory ducts and parotid gland
SO their concentration in saliva = reflection of metabolic activity of salivary glands
what is the range of bicarbonate ions
a) unstimulated
b) typical concentration
b) highest flow rates
a) <1mM
b) 15mM in mechanically stimulated saliva (ie when chewing)
c) 60mM
what happens to bicarbonate conc when stimulation begins
- highest salivary flow results in highest increase in bicarb conc
why is bicarbonate a good buffer for protons
pKa value of 6.1 so equal concentrations of carbonic acid and bicarbonate ions at pH 6.1
what is the reversible reaction for carbonic acid
h+ + HCO3^- -> H2CO3 -> (carbonic anhydrase) H2O + CO2
what enzyme catalyses the conversion of H2O + CO2 into carbononic acid H2CO3
CARBONIC ANHYDRASE (present in salivary glands AND saliva)
what happens in the carbonic acid reaction as salivary pH falls
- forward reaction favoured
- so bicarbonate ions pick up protons
- the protons can be eliminated entirely as H2O
what does the action of carbonic anhydrase generate
carbonic acids and therefore bicarbonate ions (carbonic acid dissociates to these)
what is bicarbonate derived from
plasma
partly from metabolic activity of salivary glands themselves
what is carbonic acid conc in saliva
stable at 1.3mM
in eqbm with alveolar CO2 conc in the lungs
DOESNT ALTER with changing salivary flow rate
BUT contribution from the gland itself increases with increased flow due to increased metabolic activity
explain each part of the bicarbonate reaction
IN SALIVARY GLAND
1) catabolism in gland produces H2O + CO2
2) theyre converted to H2CO3 by carbonic anhydrase
3) H2CO3 deprotonated into HCO3^- + H+
4) excess HCO3^- is in saliva
IN PLASMA
4) the rest of HCO3^- reforms carbonic acid (protonation / addition of H+)
5) carbonic acid converted back to H2O + CO2 which goes to the lungs
which inorganic ions are present
K+ and Na+