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Xerostomia

Xerostomia. What is Xerostomia ?. It is the subjective complaint of dry mouth due to a lack of saliva. A 50% reduction in saliva output if often needed for patients to notice the symptoms of xerostomia .

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Xerostomia

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  1. Xerostomia

  2. What is Xerostomia? It is the subjective complaint of dry mouth due to a lack of saliva. A 50% reduction in saliva output if often needed for patients to notice the symptoms of xerostomia. The effects can range from minor irritation that can be treated with over the counter medication to complete devastation, such as tooth loss, caries, gum disease, and ulcerated mucous membranes .

  3. The Importance of Saliva • Saliva is a mixture that comes from major and minor salivary glands and crevicular gingival fluid. • It is composed of 99% water with sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and phosphate. • Functions of saliva: • Lubrication and protection • Buffering and cleaning • Maintenance of tooth integrity • Antibacterial activity • Taste • Digestion

  4. What causes xerostomia? • Medications • Cancer related treatments • Age • Most frequent among the elderly, not due to age, but to the effects of taking multiple medications. • Recreational drugs • Marijuana • Meth

  5. Medications • Medications are the #1 cause of dry mouth. • Over 400 prescription drugs are associated with dry mouth. • Most common cause of drug induced xerostomia is the altering of neural pathways that stimulate salivary gland secretion. • Stimulation by the sympathetic nerves produces less volume and more viscous saliva. • Drugs that have an anticholinergic action reduce the volume of serous saliva.

  6. Medications

  7. Autoimmune and Systemic Diseases • Diabetes mellitus • Parkinson’s Disease • Hypo and Hyper thyroidism • Cystic Fibrosis • Sarcoidosis • Sjogren’s Syndrome • An autoimmune disease characterized by intense infiltration of exocrine glands, making it difficult to produce fluids for normal function

  8. Cancer Related Treatments • Radiation and chemotherapy treatments can permanently damage the salivary glands. • Damage to salivary glands results in reduced saliva production or stops it altogether. • Patients usually never have the same level of saliva as they did prior to treatments. • Chemotherapy • Mild and temporary xerostomia • 40% of patients experience • Radiation Therapy • Xerostomia is one of the most common and serious side effects • Severity depends on the dose and area to which the radiation was delivered.

  9. Sources Isfeld, Darren DMD and Paula K. Friedman DDS, MSD, MPH. “Xerostomia From the Beginning: We explore Dry Mouth’s Etiology, Symptoms, and Methods of Diagnosis.” Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. October 2010. 72-75. Web. 25 Oct. 2012 Greco, Nicole RDH, BSDH. “Xerostomia and the Cancer Patient.” Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. January 2007. 28,30. Web. 25 Oct. 2012 Spolarich, Ann Eshenaur RH, PhD. “Medication use and Xerostomia: Treating Drug Induced Dry Mouth.” Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. July 2005. 22-24. Web. 25 Oct. 2012

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