USING SALIVARY NITRITE LEVELS AS A POTENTIAL BIOMARKER FOR ORAL CHEMICAL CARCINOGENESIS

Objective To detect salivary nitrite levels (SNL) and to determine whether SNL is significant in oral mucosal cells as a potential chemical carcinogen using biochemical parameters and its relation to oral hygiene, pH, smoking and dietary habits. Study Design Patients were divided and compared among 3 groups: Normal individuals with no habits (Control Group [CG]), nonsmoking individuals with poor oral hygiene (GNS), and smoking individuals with poor oral hygiene (GS). Two saliva samples were collected in 2 moments (split time of 2 hours and hygiene methods applied for the second one) and, in both times, the samples were analyzed with a reagent stripe for pH levels and nitrite. Results CG has less SNL. In addition, in both samples, GNS pH levels ranged from 6 to 7; GS, from 6 to 7.5; and the same value for CG. Hyposalivation was present in GS (5%) and CG (10%). Conclusions By means of the improved methodology, it was found that the presence and variations of nitrite in the oral cavity might be linked to the presence of nitrate-reducing bacteria, saliva's acidification, poor oral hygiene, and ingestion of nitrate rich food. Further studies are needed to prove SNL as a potential carcinogenic factor.