Feeling of dry mouth in relation to whole and minor gland saliva secretion rate

Previous reports indicate an association between whole saliva secretion rate and xerostomia, but the association is not always found in individuals complaining of dry mouth. In the present study, we hypothesised that the minor salivary gland secretions could affect subjective feelings of oral dryness in individuals with normal or low whole saliva secretion rate. 142 individuals, aged 18–82 years, participated in the study. Feelings of oral dryness were assessed separately for day- and nighttime by visual analogue scales. Resting and stimulated whole saliva flow rates were measured by conventional methods, and minor palatal, buccal and labial saliva secretion rates by the Periotron method. Twenty-three percent of the women and 15% of the men reported feelings of dry mouth during day and night. The results showed statistically significant lower resting and stimulated whole and minor labial gland saliva secretion rates in subjects reporting oral dryness during both day and night compared with non-complainers. In groups of individuals with normal simulated whole saliva secretion, those who complained from dry mouth both day and night had statistically significant lower labial secretion rate compared with those who had no complaints. Although not statistically significant, this difference was seen also in the groups with fewer individuals who had low whole saliva flow. In summary, our findings suggested that the labial gland saliva might affect subjective feelings of dry mouth both in individuals with normal and subnormal whole saliva flow.