Use of medicines associated with dry mouth and dental visits in an Australian cohort
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Updated: Dec 28, 2025
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
A K Moffat1, J Apajee1, N L Pratt1
1Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Background:
Poor recognition of medicine-induced dry mouth can have a number of adverse effects, including difficulties with speech, chewing and swallowing dry foods, gum disease, dental caries and oral candidosis. This study examined the prevalence of use of medicines that cause dry mouth and claims for dental services funded by the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) in an Australian cohort.
Methods:
We used the DVA administrative health claims data to identify persons using medicines that can cause dry mouth at 1st of September 2016 and determine their DVA dental claims in the subsequent year. Results were stratified by gender, residence in community or residential aged cared facility and number of medicines.
Results:
We identified 50 679 persons using medicines known to cause dry mouth. Of these, 72.6% were taking only one medicine that may cause dry mouth, and 21.6% were taking two. Less than half (46.2%) of all people taking at least one of these medicines had a dental claim in the following year. A smaller proportion of women (35.9%) made claims than men (56.9%), χ2 = 2248.77, P < 0.0001.
Conclusions:
Targeted interventions raising awareness of the relationship between some medicines and dry mouth, and the importance of dental visits are warranted.
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