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Chapter-08 Biochemistry of Teeth, Saliva and Dental Caries

BOOK TITLE: Textbook of Biochemistry for Dental Students

Author
1. Vasudevan DM
2. S Sreekumari
3. Vaidyanathan Kannan
ISBN
9789350254882
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/11333_8
Edition
2/e
Publishing Year
2011
Pages
9
Author Affiliations
1. Faculty of Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, (Amrita University), Kochi, Kerala, Formerly Principal, College of Medicine, Amrita, Kerala; Formerly, Dean, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Deemed University), Cochin, Kerala, E-mail: dmvasudevan@aims.amrita.edu, PG Programs and Research College of Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India, College of Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India; Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, India
2. Jubilee Mission Medical College, Trissur, Kerala, Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India, Government Medical College, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India; Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India; Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India
3. Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India, Believers Church Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
Chapter keywords

Abstract

Total volume of saliva produced each day in an adult is 500–1500 ml. Parotid glands produce serous secretions, while the submandibular and sublingual glands produce both serous and mucous secretions. Major carbohydrate in saliva is glucose (10–20 mg/dl). Major proteins of saliva are mucin MG1 and MG2. Mucin forms protective coating around both hard and soft tissues and lubricates them. Major salivary enzyme is alpha amylase. It cleaves the alpha 1, 4 glycosidic bonds of starch. Optimum pH for its activity is 6.0 Proteins with anti-bacterial activities in saliva are lysozyme, immunoglobulin A and lactoferrin. Calcium binding proteins in saliva are statherins, proline rich proteins (PRP). They reduce calculus formation. Inorganic calcium is deposited along with phosphate as apatite. Alkaline phosphatase is the key enzyme in mineralization of teeth. Caries formation requires the presence of sucrose and the bacteria Streptococcus mutans. Fermentation of sucrose by the bacteria produces lactic acid, which corrodes the enamel of the teeth. Safety limit for fluoride is 1 ppm in water. Fluoride in proportions of 2-4 mg per day decreases the risk of caries. Incorporation of fluoride makes teeth resistant to demineralization, resistant to acid digestion and as an inhibitor of enolase, it blocks glycolysis in the bacteria. Fluoride levels more than 5 ppm causes mottling of enamel. Levels greater than 20 ppm lead to fluorosis, with mottling of enamel and osteoporosis.

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