Epidemiological study of dry mouth in the elderly -etiology, progress, treatment, recuperation-

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Dry mouth caused by salivary gland hypofunction is a common disoder in elderly persons. However, there have been no surveys reported of dry mouth of the elderly in Japan. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and causes of dry mouth in the elderly. The subjects of the study were 95 elderly persons (men m=31, women n=64), aged 65 to 96 years (mean=78) in 3 homes for senior citizens. We asked them detailed questions about various symptoms related to dry mouth, using a specially designed questionnaire. Then we examined missing tooth, oral mucosal lesions and salivary flow-rate by gum test. The results were as follows :1. Twenty-three (24.2%) of the subjects noticed subjective sensation of dry mouth. 2. The gum test demonstrated decreased saliva secretion in 48.3% of 89 persons. Severe decreased salivation was observed only in 4 persons (4.5). 3. Out of the 95 subjects, 85 (89.5%) had at least one chronic systemic disease and 62 (65.3%) were taking at least one xerostomic medication, (e, g., antihypertensive drugs, antihistemics, anticholinergic drugs, antidepressants, psychotropic drugs, antiparkinsonian medication, and diuretics). 4. Those who taking three kinds of xerostomic medication were found to have significantly diminished salivation or sensation of dry mouth. 5. Atrophic change of tongue (22.1%), lobulated tongue (24.2%) and angular cheilitis (2.1%) were clinically observed. No disease of the oral mucosa, such as Leukoplakia, Candidiasis, Oral lichen planus or Aphthous ulcers, were observed.