What's new for the clinician? - excerpts from and summaries of recently published papers

Abstract

Saliva is crucial for maintaining optimal oral health. Healthy individuals produce resting (unstimulated) whole saliva at a rate of 0.3-0.4 ml min −1. The subjective feeling of xerostomia is thought to occur when less saliva is secreted than the amount of water lost from the mouth by evaporation and by absorption through the oral mucosa. 1 Mucin-rich resting saliva lubricates mucous membranes and teeth, and stimulated saliva plays an important role in mastication, speech, swallowing, and digestion. Constituents such as lactoferrin, peroxidase, and histatin contribute to salivary antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. 1 In individuals with failing salivation, these important properties of saliva in the oral cavity are reduced or absent, causing dry and sore mucous membranes, delayed wound healing, rapid development of caries and erosion, fungal infections of the mouth and throat, discomfort, pain, and problems using dentures. 1 Dry mouth can also lead to swallowing difficulties, speech disturbances, loss of appetite, dehydration, and malnutrition, thus having a negative effect on diseases and contributing to reduced quality of life, particularly in life's final phase. 1