title: Oral mucous membrane flora in patients using saliva substitutes.
abstract: Salivary substitutes are sometimes valuable for elderly people and radiotherapy patients, and may be used indefinitely. It is possible that this change in the ecology may effect the oral flora.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the presence of micro-organisms on oral mucous membranes during use of saliva substitutes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-over single-blind study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinic for Maxillofacial Surgery, Malmö University Hospital and Department of Oral Microbiology, Malmö University.
  
  
  METHODS
  19 patients with low salivary secretion who had been radiated for cancer in the head and neck region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two saliva substitutes: linseed extract and a carboxymethyl cellulose preparation (Salinum and MAS-84) were used for 3 week periods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microbial samples taken, processed and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were observed when comparing baseline values with the results after the saliva substitutes and no significant differences between the use of different agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests that use of linseed extract and carboxymethyl cellulose preparation during periods of weeks does not influence flora commonly related to caries, periodontitis or infections in the oral mucous membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden. Gunvor.Johansson@od.mah.se
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Attstöm
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edwardsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: C072340:MAS 84; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; D014993:Xylitol