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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

A Method for the Measurement of Salivary Gland Function in Mice

A Method for the Measurement of Salivary Gland Function in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2018

[Saliva substitutes].

Peter Bottenberg¹, Barbara Kochanska

¹Vakgroep COPR, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Bruxelles. pbottenb@vub.ac.be

Revue Belge De Medecine Dentaire

|April 6, 2007

Summary

Patients with xerostomia (dry mouth) experience discomfort, difficulty eating, and speech problems. Current artificial saliva substitutes offer limited relief, highlighting the need for better solutions.

Area of Science:

Oral Medicine
Biomaterials Science

Context:

Xerostomia, or dry mouth, significantly impacts patients' quality of life, affecting nutrition, speech, and oral health.
Patients with xerostomia are prone to dental caries and oral candidiasis (yeast infections).

Purpose:

To evaluate the efficacy of current salivary substitutes in managing xerostomia symptoms.
To identify the limitations of artificial saliva in replicating the multifaceted functions of natural saliva.

Summary:

Salivary substitutes are prescribed when salivary gland activity cannot be stimulated but often fail to adequately replace saliva's functions.
Artificial saliva demonstrates insufficient lubrication, antimicrobial action, and protection against demineralization.
These limitations contribute to the low demand and limited clinical awareness of existing salivary substitutes.

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Impact:

The suboptimal performance of current artificial saliva products underscores the unmet need for more effective xerostomia management strategies.
Further research is required to develop optimal saliva substitutes that fully restore oral functions.