title: Impact of ageing and drug consumption on oral health.
abstract: The impact of ageing on oral health and salivary flow is usually over-estimated possibly because of the high frequency of polypharmacy observed in this subset of patients. Understanding the physiological changes and treatment-related oral complications of older patients is essential to promote accurate management of symptoms and improve their quality of life. The current paper reviews age-related physiological chances in salivary glands and the effect of polypharmacy on oral health, focusing on xerostomia and hyposalivation.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Odontologia Preventiva-Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Alcino
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gueiros
authors.forename: Maria Sueli Marques
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Jair Carneiro
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leão
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D012636:Secretory Rate; D012737:Sex Factors; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology*