A low salivary pH is strongly associated with the incidence of dental caries. The aim of this study was to determine if high intensity anaerobic exercise could affect the salivary pH response, and to determine if there is correlation between salivary pH and blood lactate values. Additionally, we also aim to determine the state of oral health in anaerobic events athletes.

Six healthy and physically active subjects, high-level athletes (3 men and 3 women; age 21.67 ± 5.32 years; weight 61 ± 7.18 kg; height 1.70 ± 0.05 m) performed a clinical trial consisting of two sessions of anaerobic lactic acid-producing exercise. Each session consisted of running the maximum number of sets of 300 meters at 90% of the individual maximal intensity. Non-stimulated whole saliva samples were collected from all subjects at three different times: (i) before the exercise; (ii) immediately after each 300 m set, and (iii) 30 minutes after the exercise. Blood lactate was measured after each 300 m set to assess the anaerobic character of the test.

Salivary pH increased significantly after the exercise in both sessions of the study (S1: P = .028; S2: P = .044).

Our results suggest that performing anaerobic lactic acid-producing exercise has an effect on saliva alkalinization. More research is needed to assess the qualitative modifications in saliva due to performing anaerobic exercise and their effect on dental health.