The Influence of Sodium Bisulphite on Acid Production in Saliva

Abstract

Recent attempts at dental caries control have been in the direction of decreasing the rate of acid formation in the mouth and/or increasing the rate of acid neutralization in regions associated with the caries susceptible portions of the teeth. The latter has been difficult to achieve, with the result that most of the recent investigations have aimed at decreasing the rate of acid formation in the mouth. Chemical inhibitors of enzyme systems which will accomplish this purpose include urea, ammoniacal Ag nitrate, fluorides and synthetic vit. K. The synthetic vit. K was used in the form of its Na bisulphite addition compound. The Na bisulphite was used to render the vit. K water soluble. However, since Na bisulphite has long been regarded as an antiseptic and antifermentation agent, it was decided to determine whether it could interfere with acid production in saliva in its own right. It was tested on the saliva of 22 patients both in vivo and in vitro. In each case it markedly reduced acid formation in the saliva regardless of the amt. of acid which was produced in the Na bisulphite-free control samples. Its action appears to be one of fixation of the aldehydes produced as intermediate products in carbo-hydrate degradation with the result that the formation of lactic acid is inhibited.