title: Xerostomia, hyposalivation, and oral microbiota in type 2 diabetic patients: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mouth dryness is one of the major problems that can lead to several oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontitis and oral infection. Mouth dryness has also been associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of xerostomia (feeling of mouth dryness), hyposalivation (the reduction of saliva), and oral microbiota in Thai patients with type 2 DM.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty-four ambulatory patients with type 2 DM and 50 non-diabetic control subjects were interviewed for symptoms of xerostomia. The medical records of these subjects were reviewed for pertinent medical history and laboratory investigations regarding their diabetic control. Oral examination and measurement of hyposalivation using a modified Schirmer test (MST) were performed The presence of oral microbial flora was investigated using a modified dip-slide test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of xerostomia was 62% in patients with type 2 DM compared with 36% in the nondiabetic control group (p = 0.001). The prevalence of hyposalivation (defined as MST values < or = 25 mm at 3 min) was 46% in the patient group, whereas only 28% of the control group had hyposalivation (p = 0.03). Patients with hyposalivation had significantly higher numbers of mutans streptococci, Lactobacillus spp., and Candida spp. in the saliva compared with those without hyposalivation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggested that xerostomia and hyposalivation were prevalent in patients with type 2 DM and were associated with higher numbers of oral pathogens in the saliva.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospital Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. dtspb@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Siribang-on Piboonniyom
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Khovidhunkit
authors.forename: Tongchat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suwantuntula
authors.forename: Soisiri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thaweboon
authors.forename: Somsak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitrirattanakul
authors.forename: Umawadee
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Chomkhakhai
authors.forename: Weerapan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Khovidhunkit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology*