Problems With Salivation

Question 1

what does saliva do?

Answer 1

• acid buffering
• mucosal lubrication [speech & swallowing]
• taste facilitation
• antibacterial

Question 2

what are some of the causes of a dry mouth?

Answer 2

• salivary gland disease
• drugs/polypharmacy
• medical conditions & dehydration
• radiotherapy & cancer treatments
• anxiety & somatisation disorders

Question 3

what are some medications that have an indirect effect of salivary flow?

Answer 3

tricyclic antidepressants
antipsychotics
antihistamines
diuretics

Question 4

what medical conditions can indirectly affect salivary problems?

Answer 4

diabetes mellitus & insipidus
renal disease
stroke
addison’s disease (adrenal insufficiency)
persistent vomiting

Question 5

what are some direct salivary gland problems?

Answer 5

sarcoidosis (infiltration of immune cells into organs/tissues/salivary glands)
HIV
Aplasia (improperly developed salivary gland)

Question 6

how can you investigate salivary disease?

Answer 6

Blood tests (FBC, urea & electrolyte, liver function test, glucose, antibody tests)

Salivary flow rate

Labial gland biopsy

Imaging (radiographs, sialography, ultrasound)