Reduced salivary flow increases the risk of which oral health issue?

• A. Tooth whitening
• B. Enamel maturation problems
• C. Dental caries
• D. Decreased susceptibility to caries

Answer: (C)

Saliva protects teeth by washing away food and sugars, buffering acidic byproducts, supplying minerals for remineralization, and providing antimicrobial factors. When salivary flow is reduced, these protections diminish: acids from bacteria aren’t neutralized as effectively, plaque and sugars linger longer, and there’s less calcium and phosphate available to repair early enamel demineralization. The result is a more acidic, demineralized environment that raises the risk of dental caries. Other options don’t reflect this protective role of saliva: tooth whitening is a cosmetic change, enamel maturation happens during tooth development, and reduced saliva does not decrease caries risk.