Evaluation of oral wetness using an improved moisture‐checking device for the diagnosis of dry mouth

Abstract

Purpose: In 2013, we reported the results of a third‐generation oral moisture‐checking device in a multicentre clinical study involving patients with dry mouth and healthy volunteers. Subsequently, several improvements have been made to the third‐generation device, and a fourth‐generation device is now commercially available. This study aimed to confirm the usefulness of this improved fourth‐generation device in the diagnosis of dry mouth and to assess the physiological wetness of lingual mucosa by using this device. Materials and Method: This multicentre study comprised subjects with dry mouth (dry mouth group) and those without dry mouth (healthy group). Results: In this study, the degree of moisture was considerably different between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed an area under the curve value of 0.831. Sensitivity and specificity values were close to 80% in cases where the degree of moisture ≥29.6 was defined as normal, ≤27.9 was defined as dry mouth, and 28.0–29.5 was defined as borderline dry mouth. Conclusions: These results suggest that the improved fourth‐generation moisture‐checking device can be used for the diagnosis of oral dryness.

Intra‐ and inter‐investigator reliabilities of oral moisture measured using an oral moisture‐checking device

“…Oral mucosal moisture was measured using an oral moisture‐checking device (Mucus ® , serial number: 441‐244, Life Co., Ltd.) (Figure ). Following the method reported by Fukushima et al, the device was covered with a polyethylene disposable sensor cover exclusive to it, and mucosal moisture was measured in the central region of the tongue mucosa at 10 mm from the tongue tip . To appropriately measure oral mucosal moisture, the device was pressed to the tongue mucosa at 200 gf of pressure .…”

“…Mouth dryness is a diagnostic criterion of this condition. Mouth dryness is assessed by the evaluation of oral mucosal moisture; saliva volume using the gum chewing test, paraffin chewing test, Saxon test, spitting method or modified cotton roll method and the evaluation of the physical properties of saliva. To diagnose oral hypofunction, mucosal moisture in the central region of the tongue dorsum is assessed using an oral moisture‐checking device or by measuring the saliva volume using the Saxon test .…”

“…To diagnose oral hypofunction, mucosal moisture in the central region of the tongue dorsum is assessed using an oral moisture‐checking device or by measuring the saliva volume using the Saxon test . Oral moisture‐checking devices are considered to be useful to evaluate mouth dryness because they allow the assessment of oral mucosal moisture without the influence of total saliva secretion volume . Saliva volume measurement requires time and thus places a significant burden on patients.…”

A pilot clinical evaluation of oral mucosal dryness in dehydrated patients using a moisture‐checking device

“…McGee et al (McGee et al, ) reported that 85% of dehydrated patients experienced dry mouth, which corroborated Shimizu et al's four findings that dry mouth is one of the most common clinical findings in dehydrated patients. Given the availability of oral moisture‐checking devices (Fukushima et al, ; Fukushima et al, ; Murakami et al, ; Osailan et al, ; Takahashi et al, ; Yamada et al, ), we hypothesized that dry mouth measures by use of such device may provide a rapid and precise indication of dehydration. In this pilot clinical study conducted in a medical emergency setting, we established the relationship between body dehydration determined clinically and the dryness of the oral mucosa measured by use of oral moisture‐checking devices.…”

“…This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. oral moisture-checking devices (Fukushima et al, 2013;Fukushima et al, 2017;Murakami et al, 2009;Osailan et al, 2012;Takahashi et al, 2006;Yamada et al, 2005), we hypothesized that dry mouth measures by use of such device may provide a rapid and precise indication of dehydration. In this pilot clinical study conducted in a medical emergency setting, we established the relationship between body dehydration determined clinically and the dryness of the oral mucosa measured by use of oral moisture-checking devices.…”