Oral Environment 3 - Oral Health Aspects Flashcards
where is salivary flow highest?
lower, lingual regions
where is salivary flow slowest?
labial and buccal regions
where are cariogenic sugars retained longest?
regions where salivary flow is lowest
what is clearance?
the rate at which substances are removed from the mouth
what is clearance related to?
factors such as salivary film velocity and location in the mouth
what are important oral health aspects?
removal of harmful materials, retention of beneficial materials
what is removal of harmful substances increased by?
high salivary flow rates
what is retention of beneficial substances improved by?
low salivary flow rates
how do plaque microorganisms generate acid?
metabolising sugars such as sucrose
what is the stephan curve?
a graph of the plaque pH change over time
how does increased salivary flow neutralise plaque acid?
increased bicarbonate content of saliva
what are the bulk cariogenic sugars?
sucrose, fructose, glucose and lactose
what are the non-caloric/high intensity sugars?
aspartame, cyclamates, saccharin and sucralose
what are the low caloric sugars?
manitol, sorbitol, xylitol
what causes xerostomia?
loss of function of more than one major salivary gland
