Salivary Yeasts, Saliva, and Oral Mucosa in the Elderly

Abstract

Yeasts are commensals in the oral cavity and may not cause disease unless there are predisposing host factors, such as other disease, or when medication is being taken. The elderly are at increased risk of yeast infection. In this paper, prevalence of salivary yeasts in a group of 368 inhabitants of Helsinki aged 76, 81, and 86 years is reported. Salivary yeasts were counted by the Oricult-N dip-slide method, salivary secretion rate and buffering capacity were measured, type of dentition was noted, and signs of yeast infection and the occurrence of subjective symptoms were determined. There was no growth of yeasts in 25% of the subjects. From one to 20 colonies/slide were observed in 21%, 21-50 colonies in 21%, and over 50 colonies (a high count) in 33%. Subjects with low salivary flow rates and low buffering capacities had significantly higher yeast counts than did subjects with normal salivary flow rates and buffering capacities. High yeast counts were found in 19% of subjects with natural teeth. The corresponding percentages in those wearing partial or complete dentures were 32 and 41, respectively. High salivary yeast counts were associated with oral mucosal lesions but not with subjective complaints of oral symptoms.

Oral Mucosal Conditions and Risk Factors among Elderly in a Turkish School of Dentistry

“…66% of our subjects declared having daily prescribed medications in the present study while use of non-prescribed medications (especially herbal) was recorded in 11.8%. Frequent use of hyposalivary medications has been found to predispose to oral mucosal diseases in elderly [1,2,51] . A statistically significant positive relationship between medication use and traumatic ulcer was also confirmed in our study sample.…”

Changes in Oral Microflora and Host Defences with Advanced Age

“…In particular, full upper dentures reduce the mechanical washing action of saliva and diminish the inhibitory effect of salivary antimicrobial factors on yeast colonization under dentures. 63 The increased presence of higher numbers of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in elderly denture wearers has also been reported. 44,57,65,69 The presence of dentures may result in a decreased pH 62 and slow down oral sugar clearance 70 in the elderly, both of which will generate a more cariogenic environment.…”

“…However, the insertion of dentures has a more noticeable effect on the prevalence of some species than others; for example, the presence of dentures in the elderly significantly enhanced the growth of yeasts, with Candida albicans being the most prevalent species. 57,59,[62][63][64][65][66] This increased prevalence was attributed to the tendency of Candida to adhere to denture material. 67 In a recent study, the first isolation of other Candida species such as Candida pararugosa from the oral cavity of systemically healthy denture wearers was reported.…”

Rol de la saliva como marcador biológico en patología bucal

“…15,16 Hernandez y Alvarado 17 , afirman que existe entre las células inmunes inflamatorias una comunicación mediada por proteínas llamadas i n t e r l e u c i n a El organismo humano contrarresta, inhibe o destruye al agente invasor c a u s a n t e d e l a p r o d u c c i ó n d e enfermedades de diversa etiología por intermedio de mecanismos estratégicos, en las que participan los componentes bioquímicos de la saliva; que son entidades moleculares medibles, cuantificables, que sirven como índices biotecnológicos en el diagnóstico preventivo de las enfermedades, denominados mediadores.…”