THE ROLE OF NITRIC OXIDE IN SALIVA IN REDUCTION OF CARIES

One of the basic preconditions for effective systemic decrease of caries prevalence, as well as for qualitative profilaxis, is to determine the risk of this complex disease onset. There is a large number of salivary substances exerting direct or indirect role in caries onset. In this study, the role of nitric oxide during this pathological process is presented. Numerous authors have proven the ability of salivary nitrites to have an inhibitory effect on growth and survival of cariogenic bacteria in acid environment. It is believed that NO expresses its antibacterial effect in two ways – by inhibition of bacterial growth and/or by increase of macrophages-mediated citotoxicity from saliva. Definitely, nitric oxide can be considered as one of possible biomarkers in etiology of onset, as well as in development of caries lesions.