Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants

The first reaction between food components and biological tissues occurs in the oral cavity. Saliva modulates the ecosystem in the oral cavity and plays a critical role in oral homeostasis. In addition, saliva is a first line of defense against free radical-mediated stress. Salivary antioxidant defense mechanisms seem to be very important. In this study we discuss in detail free radicals (FR) and reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, oxidative stress and disease, antioxidants, factors influencing antioxidant efficacy and level, antioxidants and disease prevention, antioxidants and disease treatment, classification system and finally salivary antioxidants.