Investigating the Correlation Between Oral Contraceptives and Unstimulated Saliva pH and Viscosity Among Women Aged 25 - 35
| Author | Azra Mohiti | en |
| Author | Mahsa Moshkelgosha | en |
| Orcid | Azra Mohiti [0000-0003-3547-2844] | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-06-30 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Saliva is a vital bodily fluid that plays a key role in oral and dental health. Salivary pH reflects buffering capacity, which helps prevent bacterial colonization, and salivary viscosity is directly related to protein content. Changes in these properties can adversely affect oral and dental health. Objectives: This study aimed to compare mean salivary pH and viscosity between women taking oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and those not taking OCPs. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 41 women participated: 21 OCP users and 20 non-users. Participants were recruited from Mahmoud Abad Health Center and Tahune Health Center in Isfahan using convenience sampling. Inclusion criteria were an age of 25 - 35 years and, for OCP users, at least 6 consecutive months of low-dose contraceptive pill use (OVOSTOP®, Iran Hormone Factory, Iran). Women taking medications that interfere with OCPs and those with gingivitis or periodontitis were excluded. Samples were collected between 9 and 11 AM. Immediately after sampling, salivary pH and viscosity were measured using a digital pH meter and a calibrated thistle tube. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to assess normality, and mean saliva movement in the capillary tube and salivary pH were compared between groups using independent t tests. Results: The mean saliva movement in the thistle tube was 10.76 mm ± 0.9042 SD in OCP users and 11.77 mm ± 1.3553 SD in the control group; this difference was significant (P = 0.008). The mean pH was 7.2434 ± 0.5665 SD in the case group and 7.0335 ± 0.7049 SD in the control group; this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.297). Conclusions: Salivary viscosity was higher in women taking oral contraceptives. Because these pills are used over prolonged periods, oral health may be affected; therefore, women taking oral contraceptives should be informed about potential oral health effects and appropriate preventive measures. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/semj-172631 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/semj/articles/172631 | en |
| Keyword | Oral Contraceptive Pills | en |
| Keyword | Salivary Viscosity | en |
| Keyword | Salivary pH | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Investigating the Correlation Between Oral Contraceptives and Unstimulated Saliva pH and Viscosity Among Women Aged 25 - 35 | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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