Salivary flow, saliva, pH and buffering capacity in 70‐year‐old men and women

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Abstract
A representative systematic selection of 30% of all 70-yr-olds (1148 persons) in Goteborg [Sweden] were invited to a population study. The participation rate was 85%. Dryness in the mouth was reported by 16% of the men and 25% of the women (sex diff. P < 0.01). There was a significant correlation between the number of drugs consumed by the subjects and subjective dryness (in both sexes P < 0.001). Intake of drugs from the groups of anticholinergics, antihistamines, sedatives, hypnotics or phenothiazines, respectively, seemed to have the highest predicative value for dryness in the mouth (men P < 0.05 and women P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between subjective dryness and number of definable diseases in both sexes (P < 0.01). In a consecutive sample (58 men and 53 women) a study of salivary flow, direct pH and buffer effect were performed. The mean value of unstimulated salivary secretion was in men 0.25 and in women 0.18 ml/min. Corresponding figures for stimulated secretion was 1.65 and 1.04 ml/min (sex diff. P < 0.01). A significant lower unstimulated secretion was noted in women with subjective dryness (P < 0.01). A negative significant correlation were found between dental invalidity, according to Eichner''s classification, and stimulated secretion when drug treatment was considered (men P < 0.05, women P < 0.01). Only weak relations were noted between salivary secretions and drug treatment. Only intake of drugs with diuretic effect were negatively correlated to stimulated secretion (P < 0.01). Diseases of the circulatory system were correlated to subjective dryness (P < 0.01).

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