A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF SYRUP FORM MEDICINES FOR CHILDREN ON INTRAORAL pH

Ahn, Ji-Yeung; Kim, Jae Moon; Jeong, Tae-Sung; Kim, Shin

Journal of the Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 2007;34(4):590-598.
Published online November 30, 2007.

A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF SYRUP FORM MEDICINES FOR CHILDREN ON INTRAORAL pH

Ji-Yeung Ahn, Jae Moon Kim, Tae-Sung Jeong, Shin Kim

Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Pusan National University

유아용 시럽형 약물이 구강 내 산도에 미치는 영향

안지영, 김재문, 정태성, 김신

부산대학교 치과대학 소아치과학교실

Correspondence: Shin Kim, Tel: 82-51-240-7450, Email: shinkim@pusan.ac.kr

Abstract

Syrup form medicines which children commonly take contains sugar as sweeteners. Sugar, low endogenous pH, high acidity, mucosity and low concentrations of ions including those of calcium, fluoride, and phosphate in their composition, they can be cause of caries and erosion. Not only the properties found in such medicines, but also other factors such as high frequency of ingestion, bedtime consumption, and the collateral effect of a reduction in salivary flow, poor oral hygiene of sick children may also contribute to the risk. The other side, parents rarely recognize these risk, and medical experts also easily overlook. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pH level of some syrup form medicines which are frequently administered by infants and young children, and their effects on the changes of plaque pH when rinsing with them. And we compared the salivary pH change induced by rinsing with Cough-syrup only and rinsing with Cough-syrup followed by water. The results were as follows : 1. The average pH of syrup form medicines which were prescribed in Pusan National University Hospital and several OTC syrup form medicines was pH 4.7±0.94, within the range of pH 3.0 to 6.8. 2. The plaque pH decreased rapidly below pH 5.5 after rinsing with the syrup form medicines which were selected for the test and there was no statistically significant difference in the of plaque pH change between syrup form medicines except COLDI(p>0.05). 3. There was statistically significant difference in salivary pH change between rinsing with Coughsyrup only and rinsing with water after Cough-syrup(p<0.05).

Key Words: Syrup form medicines, Intraoral pH