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Salivary secretion, taste and hyposalivation
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Biopathological Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
|September 11, 2007
Summary
Saliva is crucial for digestion, taste, and oral health. Reduced salivary flow, or hyposalivation, can cause discomfort and dental issues, often linked to medications, radiation, or diseases like Sjögren
Area of Science:
- Oral Biology
- Physiology
- Dental Medicine
Background:
- Saliva plays vital roles in digestion, taste perception, speech, and maintaining oral health.
- Decreased salivary flow (hyposalivation) leads to oral discomfort, increased caries, candidiasis, and taste alterations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms of salivary secretion.
- To examine saliva's effects on taste and its importance in oral health.
- To discuss hyposalivation causes, impacts, and management.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on salivary functions and hyposalivation.
- Analysis of physiological and pathological factors affecting salivary flow.
- Synthesis of information on hyposalivation's clinical manifestations and treatments.
Main Results:
- Saliva initiates digestion, aids taste, protects oral tissues, and facilitates speech.
- Hyposalivation is common in dental practice, frequently caused by medications, especially in the elderly.
- Other causes include radiation therapy and conditions like Sjögren's syndrome.
Conclusions:
- Understanding salivary secretion mechanisms is key to addressing hyposalivation.
- Hyposalivation management is essential for patient comfort and oral health.
- Ageing, medications, and diseases significantly impact salivary function, necessitating targeted interventions.
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