Oral Environment 3 Flashcards
Where is the highest and lowest flow rates of saliva in the oral cavity?
Highest flow - lingual region
Slowest flow - labial & buccal regions
What is the definition of clearance (in terms of oral cavity)
The rate at which substances are removed from the mouth
Why is clearance important?
Removal of ‘harmful’ substances such as sugar can be damaging to oral environment
What is the stephan curve a graph of?
The plaque pH change over time
How can you promote an increase in salivary flow?
Gum stimulation -> increased bicarbonate content of saliva, neutralise plaque acid
What is a bulk sweetener and what are the negatives about it?
Contain calories and sweeten products, can be metabolised to produce acid (cariogenic)
Examples:
- Sucrose
- Fructose
- Glucose
What is a non-calorie sweetener and why is it arguably better?
No/very low calories, cannot be metabolised to produce acid (non-cariogenic)
Examples:
- Aspartame
- Sucralose
- Stevia
What is xerostomia?
Dry mouth as a result of DECREASED salivary flow rate. Can be due to loss of function of major salivary gland(s). More susceptible to caries as pH isn’t neutralised by saliva
What can be the cause of decreased salivary flow?
- Side effects of many drugs
- Radiotherapy (damages glands and epithelia)
- Diseases (specific salivary gland ones)
What are the consequences of decreased salivary flow?
- Increased caries
- Increased oral disease (stomatitis - inflammation in mouth)
- Dysaesthesia (‘burning’ mouth)
- Impaired oral function (chewing, swallowing, speaking)
- Diminished taste perception
How can you manage xerostomia?
Increasing salivary flow by some sort of stimulation, by chewing or some drugs.
Last resort
Saliva substitutes
Mucin-based/cellulose-based as water alone is not very effective
