Medical expert of the article
New publications
Hyposalivation
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Giposalivatsiya (hyposialia, oligotaptizm, oligosialiya) - a decrease in the secretion of saliva, which leads to a xerostomia in the future. As a temporary phenomenon xerostomia occurs during acute infectious diseases (dysentery, typhus, hepatitis, etc.), with digestive system diseases (chronic gastritis, hepatocholescetitis, etc.), in patients with endocrine disorders (hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, menopause, diabetes mellitus and other).
Symptoms of hyposalivation
There are three stages of xerostomia: initial, clinically pronounced and late. In the initial stage xerostomia worries periodically, more often - when talking, there may be complaints of pain or burning in the mouth. When examining an objective reduction in salivation is not determined.
In a clinically pronounced stage, mouth dryness worries patients all the time, especially while eating, talking and when worried. When examining the oral cavity mucous membrane of normal color, slightly moistened, free saliva is small (it is foamy). When massaging the salivary gland from the ducts, saliva is released by drop. In the cytological examination, goblet cells and mucus are additionally found.
In the late stage of xerostomia, in addition to constant dry mouth, there is pain during eating and a burning sensation in the mouth. Saliva from the ducts during the massaging of the glands is not secreted. With sialometry, saliva can not be obtained. Cytological preparations of saliva contain a variety of cellular elements, including cells of ciliated cubic epithelium.
Treatment of hyposalivation
Treatment of patients with hyposalization and xerostomia is symptomatic. It is aimed at stimulating salivation and treating the causative disease. For this purpose, galvanization or electrophoresis is carried out with solutions of potassium chloride or galantamine in the salivary gland, a novocaine blockade. They also use substitution therapy: moistening the mouth with lysozyme solution, lubricating with vegetable oil, using artificial saliva, various gels, etc.