Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients can hypothetically be considered as being high caries risk patients; they frequently consume
sugar-rich in-between-meal snacks/drinks and they have a high intake of
sugar containing syrups and
aerosols (also acidic) and salivary flow reducing medication (beta-2-adrenergica). The aim of this study was to investigate the determining factors of oral health in CF homozygotes, CF heterozygotes and healthy controls. CF homozygotes had significantly the lowest caries experience, while CF heterozygotes had a borderline not significant higher caries experience than healthy controls. CF homozygotes also had significant lower Streptococcus mutans counts than both other groups. CF homozygotes also had significant less gingival
bleeding, while no significant differences in plaque and
calculus amount were found between the three groups. On behalf of
oral hygiene habits, no significant differences were found between the three groups. CF homozygotes appeared to consume more dairy products than the others. The influence of the typical CF medication on oral health did not play a significant role. CF homozygotes had a significant higher total
salivary protein concentration than the others, while SDS-PAGE analysis showed a 68 kDa
protein being specific in appearance for CF heterozygotes. CF homo- and heterozygotes had significant higher salivary
sodium concentrations than controls. CF homozygotes also had a significant higher salivary
phosphate concentration than both other groups. The impression that CF patients seem to possess an intrinsic salivary compensatory mechanism should be further investigated.