Xerostomia, hyposalivation, and oral microbiota in type 2 diabetic patients: a preliminary study.
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.
Khovidhunkit
Siribang-on Piboonniyom
SO
Department of Hospital Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. dtspb@mahidol.ac.th
Suwantuntula
Tongchat
T
Thaweboon
Soisiri
S
Mitrirattanakul
Somsak
S
Chomkhakhai
Umawadee
U
Khovidhunkit
Weerapan
W
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*