Cariology and Prevention 2 Practice Test

Saliva helps keep the mouth clean and balanced, washing away debris, buffering acids, and providing antimicrobial components that control plaque and gingival inflammation. When saliva flow is reduced, these protective actions are diminished, so plaque tends to accumulate more around the gum line. This increased plaque retention provokes a stronger inflammatory response in the gingiva, leading to gingivitis—the early stage of periodontal disease. That’s why the consequence most directly linked to hyposalivation is gingivitis due to higher plaque retention.

The idea of no periodontal effects doesn’t fit because reduced saliva disrupts cleansing and defense against plaque. Hypercementosis isn’t driven by saliva levels, and saying there’s only increased gingival recession misses the primary inflammatory response caused by more plaque, which is gingivitis.