Study on the Relationship between Subjective Oral Dryness and Stimulated Saliva or Oral Mucosal Moisture

Abstract

Clinical significanceThis study investigated the relationship between subjective oral dryness and stimulated saliva or oral mucosal moisture. Both stimulated saliva and oral mucosal moisture are related to subjective oral dryness, and the Saxon test and the test using an oral moisture checking device are useful for assessing subjective oral dryness. AbstractPurpose: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between subjective oral dryness and stimulated saliva or oral moisture. Methods: Twenty-one patients with subjective oral dryness (OD) and 21 healthy adults (HA) were enrolled in the study. The Saxon test was performed by chewing a gauze sponge for 2 minutes. Oral moisture was measured at the lingual mucosa (LM) and buccal mucosa (BM) by using an oral moisture checking device. Group differences in the amount of stimulated saliva and oral moisture were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test and Student's t test. Results: The average amount of salivary secretion in OD and HA in the Saxon test was 0.65 ± 0.55 and 2.34 ± 1.41 g/2 min, respectively; the difference between the groups was significant (p < 0.01). The oral moisture at the LM in OD and HA was 27.2% ± 2.9% and 32.3% ± 1.7%, respectively; this difference was significant (p < 0.01). The oral moisture at the BM in OD and HA was 32.6% ± 2.1% and 34.0% ± 2.2%, respectively; this difference was also significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the amount of stimulated saliva became less than 2.00 g and the moisture at the LM became less than 30.0% in patients with subjective oral dryness. These results suggest that stimulated saliva and oral moisture are related to subjective oral dryness; thus, both the Saxon test and the test using an oral moisture checking device are useful for the assessment of subjective oral dryness.

Comparison of a saliva wetness tester and a moisture‐checking device in patients with maxillary obturator prostheses

“…showed a positive correlation between saliva wetness and unstimulated salivary flow rate as measured by the spitting method in tube‐fed patients. In addition, the relationship between the results of moisture measurements and symptoms of dry mouth are reportedly correlated. Takahashi et al .…”

“…In the present study, the moisture level had a significantly positive correlation with saliva wetness. There is no previous information on this relationship; however, it is reported that each result of moisture measurement corresponds to that of conventional methods. Using a moisture‐checking device, Takahashi et al .…”

“…After keeping the subject at rest for 5 min under quiet circumstances without talking, each measurement was performed five times 1,2,10 . The mean value of each measurement was calculated [1][2][3]7,12,13 . To evaluate the results, a value of 29% for moisture level 1,2 and 3 mm for saliva wetness 7,12 were used as reference values in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.…”

“…Postoperatively, patients with oral tumours often complain of dry mouth following surgery and radiation therapy 1,2 . There are two methods to examine dry mouth: measurement of stimulated salivary flow rate during chewing [3][4][5] and measurement of the amount of unstimulated saliva at rest [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] . The former is the conventional method to examine dry mouth.…”

“…Measurement of the amount of unstimulated saliva at rest involves the spitting method [4][5][6][7][8] , the cotton method 9,10 , moisture-checking devices [1][2][3]6,9,10 and saliva wetness testers 6,7,9,11,12 . As conventional methods, both the spitting method and the cotton method are useful for evaluating dry mouth in terms of subjective symptoms 4,10 .…”