Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is characterized by a burning sensation in the oral cavity although the oral mucosa is clinically normal. The syndrome mostly affects middle‐aged women. Various local, systemic and psychological factors have been found to be associated with BMS, but its etiology is not fully understood. Oral complaints and salivary flow were surveyed in 669 men and 758 women randomly selected from 48,500 individuals between the ages 20 and 69 years. Fifty‐three individuals (3.7%), 11 men (1.6%) and 42 women (5.5%), were classified as having BMS. In men, no BMS was found before the age group 40 to 49 years where the prevalence was 0.7%, which increased to 3.6% in the oldest age group. In women, no BMS was found in the youngest age group, but in the age group 30 to 39 years the prevalence was 0.6% and increased to 12.2% in the oldest age group. Subjective oral dryness, age, medication, taste disturbances, intake of L‐thyroxines, illness, stimulated salivary flow rate, depression and anxiety were factors associated with BMS. In individuals with BMS, the most prevalent site with burning sensations was the tongue (67.9%). The intensity of the burning sensation was estimated to be 4.6 on a visual analogue scale. There were no increased levels of depression, anxiety or stress among individuals with more pain compared to those with less pain. It was concluded that BMS should be seen as a marker of illness and/or distress, and the complex etiology of BMS demands specialist treatment.

Medication and psychological processes may affect salivary flow and cause subjective oral dryness. The importance of these factors is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of medication, anxiety, depression, and stress with unstimulated salivary flow and subjective oral dryness. We studied 1,202 individuals divided into three groups, and controls. Intake of medication was evaluated. Anxiety, depression, and stress were assessed. Unstimulated salivary flow < 0.1 mL/min and subjective oral dryness were significantly associated with age, female gender, intake of psychotropics, anti-asthmatics, and diuretics. Unstimulated salivary flow < 0.1 mL/min and no subjective oral dryness were significantly associated with age, intake of antihypertensives, and analgesics. Subjective oral dryness and unstimulated salivary flow > 0.1 mL/min were significantly associated with depression, trait anxiety, perceived stress, state anxiety, female gender, and intake of antihypertensives. Age and medication seemed to play a more important role in individuals with hyposalivation, and female gender and psychological factors in individuals with subjective oral dryness.

Hyposalivation is prevalent in younger adults, among whom it is associated with diagnosed disease and high BMI, while after age 50 years it is associated with medication. It is also associated with gender and with fewer remaining teeth.

The objectives were to measure the prevalence of perceived stress in adults and to evaluate gender and age differences in stress level. Association between perceived stress and depression, anxiety and medication was also studied. A total of 1275 subjects (581 men and 694 women) were randomly selected in equal age groups. Perceived stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). Two PSQ cut-off scores, moderate and high stress level, were yielded by using mean score and standard deviation. Depression was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and anxiety with the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The intake of medications was registered and classified. The prevalence of moderate stress was estimated to be 10.0 per cent, lowest in the 60-69-year and highest in the 40-44-year age group. Women of 30-34 years had a higher frequency of moderate stress (11.1 per cent) than men in the same age group (5.9 per cent). The prevalence of high stress was 4.0 per cent, higher in women (5.5 per cent) than in men (2.2 per cent). Women in the age groups 30-34 years (12.7 per cent) and 35-39 years (8.1 per cent) reported a greater proportion of high stress than the men (0 per cent for both age groups). Low and moderate stress were associated with STAI and high stress with the BDI. The BDI attitudes self-punitive wishes, sleep disturbances and loss of appetite were associated with high stress. High stress was associated with psychotropic drugs. Antidepressants comprised the majority of psychotropic drugs used. It was concluded that women in the 30 to 39-year age group are exposed to high stress and are therefore a vulnerable group. Anxiety is more important in moderate stress levels and depression in high stress levels. Clinicians should be aware of the suicidal risk associated with high stress levels. It seems that psychotropic drugs alone are not sufficient to reduce stress levels.

Saliva plays an important role in maintaining oral health and functions. In the present study, unstimulated and stimulated whole salivary flow and various oral complaints were surveyed in 1427 individuals, 669 men (47%) and 758 women (53%). These individuals, aged 20 to 69 years and from different socioeconomic backgrounds, were recruited from 2000 randomly selected men and women in the register of the public dental health service in northern Sweden. The unstimulated salivary flow rate ranged from 0 to 2.07 mL/min (mean 0.33+/-SD 0.26) for men, and from 0 to 1.35 mL/min (mean 0.26+/-SD 0.21) for women. The stimulated salivary flow rate ranged from 0.17 to 7.3 mL/min (mean 2.50+/-SD 1.06) for men, and from 0 to 6.40 mL/min (mean 2.02+/-SD 0.93) for women. Women over 55 years of age had a reduced unstimulated salivary flow (P<0.05). Individuals with many teeth had a higher stimulated salivary flow than those with fewer teeth (P<0.001). Male smokers had a lower unstimulated salivary flow than male non-smokers (P<0.05). Women with oral lesion complaints had a lower unstimulated salivary flow (P<0.05), and women with burning mouth had a lower stimulated salivary flow (P<0.01). Individuals with subjective oral dryness had reduced salivary flow, both unstimulated (men P<0.01, women P<0.001) and stimulated (P<0.001). Subjective oral dryness was associated with complaints of burning mouth (P<0.001), muscle pain (P<0.01), taste disturbances (P<0.01), and dry eyes (P<0.05). Individuals with subjective oral dryness had fewer teeth than individuals with no such complaints (P<0.001). Information regarding salivary flow rate in adults is important in understanding and evaluating the relationship between salivary flow and various types of oral complaints in patients.