clinical focus
Personal perceptions count
What is dry mouth?
Why dry mouth in the elderly
is hard to identify, but can’t
be ignored.
Jo Purssey
I
n Australia, our population is ageing.
In order to support our overall health,
this means we need our teeth and
mouth to remain healthy for much
longer.
There are many oral health issues
that can particularly impact the aged
and elderly population. Some are
obvious – like tooth decay, tooth loss
or gum disease – while others can be
much more difficult to identify and
therefore treat.
One example of a condition that is
hard to identify is ‘dry mouth’. While the
name might give the impression that this
condition is merely an inconvenience,
it can, in fact, have very serious health
consequences.
28 agedcareinsite.com.au
Xerostomia is the professional term for
dry mouth. As a condition, it has been
defined as a personal perception of dry
mouth. Salivary Gland Hypofunction
(SGH) is a physiological condition where
there is a reduction in the quality or
quantity of salivary flow. Xerostomia may
or may not be accompanied by SGH.
Low saliva flow is most commonly
caused by inadequate hydration, although
other factors can also play a part.
These can include the side-effects of
certain medications or damage to the
salivary glands by disease, or treatments
like radiation therapies.
Complex medical conditions,
compromised health and the
simultaneous use of multiple medications
are common among the elderly. This
makes them highly susceptible to the
risk factors and consequences related to
dry mouth.
Why is saliva so important?
Saliva plays an important role in
protecting and lubricating the mouth,
and assists us with eating, chewing,
swallowing, taste and digestion. It also
has many other significant purposes,
including:
• assisting with speech
• m
anaging acid levels in the mouth
• protecting against bacterial and
fungal infections
• protecting tooth enamel
• transporting nutrients, enzymes and
minerals.
Conversely, a lack of adequate
saliva can contribute to negative
outcomes. These can vary from mild
conditions, through to more serious
complications. Some examples of these
issues are:
• bad breath
• oral soft tissue soreness
• burning mouth
• altered taste
• dental decay
• gum disease
• oral infections such as thrush
• difficulty retaining dentures, and soft
tissue infections occurring under
dentures
• bacterial disease resulting from complex
restorative surgery.
In many cases the symptoms of dry
mouth are alleviated by drinking sweetened
and acidic drinks, sucking on lozenges or
eating lollies – all of which contribute to
dental decay.
With a reduction in the protective factors
provided by saliva, and an increase in risk
factors like sugar, acids and poor oral