Comparative Study of Salivary pH in Aphthous Ulcer Patients and Normal Individuals

Introduction:Although there are studies related to salivary pH and diseases of the oral cavity, the relation between salivary pH and aphthous ulcers (AU) has not been explained.This study describes a simple way to test the salivary pH and find the relationship between salivary pH and AU as well as the effect of alkaline gels on the treatment of the same.Materials and methods: A case-control study in which 60 patients and subjects who presented to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Out-patient Department (OPD), VIMS Bellary, of which 30 were patients with AU and 30 were subjects who presented with other complaints, were selected for this study.Salivary pH was tested using a pH paper.Results: This study showed that the salivary pH of the patients with AU was acidic as compared to the subjects, and the use of alkaline gels showed improvement in the patient's symptoms and signs.Clinical significance: This test can be done in any healthcare center on an OPD basis even without any equipment, just by using a pH paper.