Saliva secretion rate and acidity in a group of physically disabled older care home residents

A growing number of older people have teeth, which are vulnerable to oral diseases. To maintain good oral health, an adequate amount of saliva should be secreted and the saliva should possess adequate buffer capacity. The study aim was to investigate the associations of saliva secretion rate and acidity with gender, age, and some medical characteristics in a convenience sample of physically disabled older care home residents. In 20 male and 30 female physically disabled older care home residents with a mean age of 78.1 ± 9.7 years, the resting, chewing-stimulated, and acid-stimulated whole saliva secretion rate and acidity, as well as the main medical diagnosis and the number of medications used, were registered. Resting, chewing-stimulated and acid-stimulated whole saliva secretion rates were lower in women than in men and negatively associated with age and the number of medications used. In female residents, the acidity of acid-stimulated whole saliva was negatively associated with the acid-stimulated whole saliva secretion rate. In residents aged >70 years, the acidity of resting whole saliva was positively associated with age. The acidity of acid-stimulated whole saliva of all residents was positively associated with the number of medications used.