Relationship between stressful situations, salivary flow rate and oral volatile sulfur‐containing compounds

Abstract

The relationship between stress, salivary flow rate and oral volatile sulfur-containing compounds (VSCs) is not clearly established. Two stressful situations were studied: psychological stress caused by a biochemistry examination (Study I) and psychophysiological stress caused by premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (Study II). Seventy-one undergraduate dental students took part in Study I and VSCs were measured 1 wk before the examination, on the day of examination and 1 wk after. In Study II, 50 women were selected (23 with and 27 without PMS) and the measurements were made during non-menstrual, premenstrual and menstrual stages. Unstimulated salivary flow was determined in the subjects of both studies. On the day of the biochemistry examination, VSCs significantly increased and salivary flow decreased compared with baseline values. Women with PMS showed higher VSC concentrations during the premenstrual stage than those without PMS (P < 0.05), but the salivary flow was not statistically different. A change in VSCs was observed during different stages of the menstrual cycle for the groups of women, but the salivary flow did not change. The results suggest that a stressful situation can be a predisposing factor for the increase of VSCs in the mouth air, but the mechanism cannot be simply explained by reduction of the salivary flow.

Chewing Xylitol Gum Improves Self-Rated and Objective Indicators of Oral Health Status under Conditions Interrupting Regular Oral Hygiene

“…2. We surmise that baseline salivation may be suppressed by stress before and during training (Queiroz et al 2002).…”

Burning mouth syndrome and psychological disorders

“…45 One such cause is the anaerobic production of volatile sulphur compounds by bacteria in the mouth, and in stress there is an increased concentration of sulphur compounds in saliva. 31 However, not all persons with subjective halitosis have significant malodour and this may have a psychogenic basis or be attributable to a form of delusion or monosymptomatic hypochondriasis, 45 or organic disease including cerebral tumour. Within the BMS patient group, subjective halitosis is also a common finding 2 and the objective assessment of this symptom is an important parameter in the workup.…”

“…Investigations of the stress response associated with particular situations including examinations and fear of pain show reduced flow rates, decreased pH values, and increased protein and amylase concentrations. 31 Psychological and physiological stress exacerbated by examinations or menstruation can also cause an increase in oral volatile sulphurcontaining compounds 31 and variation in total ion concentration. Numerous studies have confirmed the relationship between anxiety, stress and particularly depression with a lowering of unstimulated salivary flow rates, 32 and most readers will relate to both acute onset oral dryness in situations such as unexpected public exposure or to slower onset in situations such as the lead-up to a planned public exposure, e.g., giving a speech.…”

“…Increased age and medications, e.g., psychotropics, anti-asthmatics and diuretics, seem to be more important in objective hyposalivation, while gender and psychological factors feature more in subjective oral dryness. 31 Low unstimulated salivary flow, coupled with subjective oral dryness, is associated with age, female gender and medication. 32 Low unstimulated salivary flow without subjective dryness is associated with age and medication (anti-hypertensives and analgesics), while purely subjective oral dryness is associated with depression, perceived stress, state and trait anxiety, female gender and anti-hypertensives.…”

Impact of physical stress symptoms and psycho-emotional stress symptoms on oral health in adults

“…스 트레스는 신경계, 내분비계, 면역계 등의 신체기능에 생 리적인 변화 [2]를 일으킬 수 있을 뿐만 아니라 구강 질환 및 구취에 영향을 줄 수 있다 [3,4]. 스트레스 인자에 의해 신체가 저항력을 높이기 위해 각종 호르몬을 분비하게 되는데 이러한 반응들이 변화하게 되면 많은 질병을 일 으킨다고 보고 있다 [5].…”