Salivation in healthy schoolchildren.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain reference data on the unstimulated salivary flow rate in healthy 6-11-year-old boys and girls, for use in the treatment of drooling in mentally and physically handicapped children.


METHODS
Under standard conditions unstimulated saliva was collected from 62 healthy children using the swab method. Flow rate was determined by calculating the increase in weight of cotton rolls placed in the mouth for 5 min. The influence of the variables age, gender and type of gland were evaluated.


RESULTS
No significant difference was found between the flow rate in boys and girls or between the children in this age window. The swab method showed good reproducibility. The right and left parotid glands had equal flow rates of 0.15 ml/min. The flow rate in the floor of the mouth secreted by the submandibular and sublingual glands was 0.32 ml/min.


CONCLUSIONS
In healthy children of 6-11 years, age and gender did not influence the salivary flow rate and therefore do not have to be taken in consideration when measuring salivary flow rate. The swab method was reliable, easy to carry out and well-tolerated by the group of schoolchildren.
Rotteveel
Liselotte J C
LJ
Department of Rehabilitation, University Medical Centre 'St. Radboud', P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen (internal code 720), The Netherlands.
Jongerius
Peter H
PH
van Limbeek
Jacques
J
van den Hoogen
Frank J A
FJ
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D012472:Salivation / Q000502:physiology*; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors