Xerostomia and associated factors in a community‐dwelling adult population
- 1 October 1996
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology
- Vol. 24 (5), 312-316
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0528.1996.tb00868.x
Abstract
Xerostomia is the subjective sensation of dry mouth. Estimates on the occurrence of xerostomia in community-dwelling adults have ranged from 10% among persons over age 50 to 40% for persons over age 65. Virtually no data are available for persons under age 50. To begin to establish a database on the occurrence of xerostomia and factors associated with it, a cross-sectional assessment of self-reported symptoms and salivary function was conducted across a broad age-range of generally healthy community-dwelling adults. A convenience sample of 710 adults who ranged from 19 to 88 years of age was drawn from various sources in the greater-Rochester, New York area. Study volunteers were administered a standardized questionnaire on general and oral health, which included questions on the symptoms of xerostomia, and were provided an oral screening examination, which included measurement of unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva flow rates. Overall, the observed prevalence of xerostomia was 24% among females and 18% among males. While xerostomia was more commonly observed in women than men, this association was only clear after age 50. Xerostomia was associated with: use of medications with hyposalivatory side-effects; difficulty with dry foods; cracked lips; dry eyes; difficulty swallowing; and, among males, current cigarette smoking. Results indicated a tendency for salivary flow rates to be lower for older persons, particularly the stimulated flow rate. There was a tendency in the younger cohorts for flow rates to be lower among individuals who reported sensation of dry mouth than among those who did not. This tendency was not apparent among older persons, suggesting that younger persons may be more likely to experience symptoms of oral dryness when salivary flow was low while older persons may relate symptoms of dry mouth to a more complex constellation of factors where salivary flow is only one component. These findings need to be examined further.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- Mouth dryness as reported by older FloridiansCommunity Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 1993
- Subjective reports of oral dryness in an older adult populationCommunity Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 1993
- Association Between Salivary Flow Rate and the Use of Systemic Medication Among 76-, 81-, and 86-year-old Inhabitants in Helsinki, FinlandJournal of Dental Research, 1992
- Xerostomia in the Elderly: Prevalence, Diagnosis, Complications and Treatment1Gerodontology, 1985
- Age-related Salivary Flow Rate Changes in Controls and Patients with Oral Lichen PlanusJournal of Dental Research, 1985
- Basic Biological Sciences Unstimulated and Stimulated Parotid Salivary Flow Rate in Individuals of Different AgesJournal of Dental Research, 1984
- Oral Defenses and Disease: Salivary Gland Function 1Gerodontology, 1984
- Salivary flow, saliva, pH and buffering capacity in 70‐year‐old men and womenJournal of Oral Rehabilitation, 1984
- Age Dependency of Stimulated Salivary Flow Rate, pH, and Lactobacillus and Yeast ConcentrationsJournal of Dental Research, 1982