Factors associated to salivary flow alterations in dry mouth female patients*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Saliva plays an important role in oral health; it is involved in lubrication of the oral mucosa, protection against infections, transport of nutrients and digestive enzymes, remineralization of teeth, as well as aiding in chewing, swallowing and speech. Reductions in the amount of saliva are known to increase the risk of oral diseases. This study investigated the factors associated to salivary flow alterations and its relationship with age, burning mouth syndrome, psychiatric and sleep disorders, systemic diseases and chronic drug use. METHODS: A total of 30 patients complaining of dry mouth without unbalanced systemic diseases were included. Questionnaires regarding socio-demographic data, xerostomia, burning mouth, depression and anxiety symptoms, and sleep disturbances were applied. Measures of salivary flow rates were obtained using spit method. Correlation of hyposalivation and quantitative data was determined using a multivariate regression model. RESULTS: The age range was 31-83 years, hyposalivation was correlated positively with sleep disorder (β=0.079, 95% CI, 0.033 to 0,124) and negatively with burning mouth (β=-0.043, 95% CI, -0.083 to -0.002). CONCLUSION: These results provide evidences regarding the association between reduced salivary flow and burning mouth, sleep disorders and chronic use of psychotropic medicines, and Factors associated to salivary flow alterations in dry mouth female patients* Fatores associados a alterações no fluxo salivar em pacientes com xerostomia Vanessa Leal Scarabelot1, Maria Cristina Munerato2, Liciane Fernandes Medeiros3, Márcia Gaiger de Oliveira2, Anna Cecília Moraes Chaves2, Andressa de Souza1, Rafael Vercelino1, Wolnei Caumo1, Iraci Lucena da Silva Torres4 *Received from Stomatology Clinic of Hospital de Clínicas of Porto Alegre and the Oral Pathology Clinic of the School of Dentistry of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. we highlighted the important role of antidepressants on modulation of burning mouth sensation.