The purpose of this study is to evaluate salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and cariogenic activity using unstimulated saliva of the head and neck cancer patients. Twenty three cancer patients (19 males, 4 females) who had undergone chemotherapy and radiation therapy and twenty four healthy volunteers (14 males, 10 females) as a control were included. Salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and cariogenic activity using unstimulated saliva were examined. Compared to saliva of the control group, salivary flow rate (p<0.001) and salivary pH (p<0.001) were significantly lower in head and neck cancer patients. The colony counts of Lactobacilli was higher in head and neck cancer patients (p<0.05) than in control group. These salivary factors and cariogenic activity can increase the prevalence of dental caries in head and neck cancer patients.

• Lim, Hae-Soon(Department of dentistry, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University, Department of Dental Education, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University)
• Chung, Kyung-Yi( Department of dentistry, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University) | Chung, Kyung-Yi
• Kim, Ae-Ok( Department of dentistry, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University) | Kim, Ae-Ok
• Kim, Mi-Ran( Department of Biomedical research institute, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital) | Kim, Mi-Ran
• Kim, Youn-Shin( Department of Forensic Medicine, Chosun University, School of Medicine) | Kim, Youn-Shin
• Kang, Mi-Sun( Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University, Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School) | Kang, Mi-Sun
• Hong, Jeong-Won( Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Seonam University) | Hong, Jeong-Won
• Jung, Ji-Yeon( Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University, Research Center for Biomineralization Disorder, Chonnam National University) | Jung, Ji-Yeon
• Park, Ji-Il( Department of Dental Hygiene, Gwangju Health University) | Park, Ji-Il
• Lee, Guem-Sug( Department of dentistry, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University) | Lee, Guem-Sug