Objective: 

Cigarette smoke contains a large amount of oxidative species, and therefore smoking represents a significant source of oxidative stress and is one of the main risk factor for oral tumors. Saliva possesses protection mechanisms from oxidative attack. The purpose was to investigate the smoking effect on salivary leukocytes and salivary antioxidant capacity, appreciated by glutathione level (GSH).

Methods: 

Twenty four persons, 10 smokers and 14 non-smokers, aged between 30–60 years, and 12 smoking patients with oral malignant tumors were investigated. Saliva samples were taken in the morning for a period of 5 minutes in order to determine salivary flow. Saliva samples were obtained after two hours of tooth brushing. Unstimulated whole saliva samples in smokers lot, was taken in the morning before and 30 minutes after smoking one cigarette. Salivary GSH was performed by dithio-bisnitro-benzoic acid method (DTNB). Salivary leukocytes were counted and phagocytic capacity was estimated by NBT test.

Results: 

Salivary flow in non-smoking patients was 32% decreased in comparison with smokers, and increased after smoking and in patients with oral soft tissues tumors. Salivary GSH in non-smokers was 5% increased than in healthy smokers. After 30 minutes smoking salivary GSH increased with 73.48%. The increase of salivary leukocytes observed in smokers, may maintain local inflammation, through mediators and enzymes released from leukocytes. Low values in phagocytic tests complete the negative effects of smoking over oral environment.

Conclusions: 

Smoking increased the salivary GSH levels, decreased the salivary leukocytes phagocytosis. Smoking can have noxious effects on oral cavity.