Saliva, which contains essential protein
molecules, electrolytes, and minerals, is critical to good
dental
care and oral health.
Saliva lubricates and cleanses the mouth, preserves and bathes tooth structure,
neutralizes acids that cause cavities, limits growth of bacteria, viruses,
and fungi, dissolves and breaks down food, assists with taste, keeps the
mouth moist (no
dry mouth which helps with speaking and
eating), and facilitates the retention of dentures.
Researh in dentistry has shown that healthy, unmedicated
older adults do not have any significant decrease in saliva flow. Loss
of saliva and
dry mouth are not the result of normal
aging, but are instead associated with illness, disease, medication treatments,
and medication. Dry mouth is a cause of several dental care
problems and you should consult your dentist.
Reduced saliva flow increases the harmful
effects of the organisms of the mouth, causing
dental cavities, bleeding gums, plaque,
burning
mouth, pain, soft tissue infections, cracks and other dental care
issues. In addition, an individual
may have difficulty speaking, tasting, and swallowing food. Dentures do
not fit well or feel comfortable when saliva is reduced.
Older adults take many over-the-counter
and prescription medications for chronic medical conditions and disorders.
For many of these medications, decrease in saliva flow is a common side
effect. In fact, over 500 prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
cause the dental care problem dry mouth
(xerostomia). The medications
most often associated with dry mouth are:
- tricyclic antidepressants
- antipsychotics
- antianxiety
- antihistamines
- decongestants
- antihypertensives
- diuretics
- antiparkinsonism
- anticholinergics
Although medication use is frequently
associated with dry mouth, certain medical diseases, conditions, or treatments
reduce saliva flow. Examples are
- head and neck radiation treatment
for cancer,
- Sjögren's syndrome
- poorly controlled diabetes
- bone marrow transplantation
- HIV
- cystic fibrosis
- scleroderma
- amyloidosis
- sarcoidosis
- vitamin deficiency
- thyroid disorders
- mental stress and depression
