Salivary dynamics: Assessing pH, glucose levels, and oral microflora in diabetic and non-diabetic individual

: Diabetes significantly impacts oral health, including alterations in the oral microflora. Increased glucose levels in the oral cavity create an environment conducive to the growth of certain pathogenic bacteria, leading to various oral and systemic diseases. These organisms can then move to the bloodstream, causing systemic inflammation and leading to health problems like cardiovascular disease and systemic infections. : This study aimed to compare the salivary pH, glucose concentration, and oral microflora in diabetics and non-diabetics and to correlate that elevated salivary glucose can lead to oral and systemic infections. This single-centre, cross-sectional study involved 25 diabetics and 25 non-diabetics aged 18 years and above. The study duration was 60 days. Saliva samples collected from patients of both groups were subjected to biochemical and microbial analysis. In biochemical analysis, the pH and glucose concentrations were monitored. In microbial analysis, routine and PCR-based assays were used to identify the significant organisms from the saliva samples from both groups. : The average pH (7.028) of the non-diabetic individuals was higher, towards the neutral range; however, in diabetic individuals, the range (6.016) was towards acidic. The salivary glucose estimation results showed that the average glucose concentration in the non-diabetic group was less than in the diabetic group. The oral microbiological profile of diabetic patients differed from those of non-diabetics, where the number of bacterial colonies was significantly higher in diabetic individuals. Notably, the number of dental caries-causing bacteria was 25 in diabetic and 23 in nondiabetic patients. This can be attributed to the reduced pH of the saliva and the elevated glucose level. : The oral microbiological profile of diabetic patients differed from that of non-diabetics, with diabetics having considerably more bacterial colonies. Results suggested that diabetic individuals are at a higher risk of oral and systemic infections. Hence, maintaining balanced glucose levels can help protect oral health by limiting the nutrients available for pathogenic bacteria, reducing inflammation, and supporting immune function.