Xerostomia, Hyposalivation and Oral Microbiota in
Patients Using Antihypertensive Medications
Vimonpun Nonzee DDS, MSc*,
Somchai Manopatanakul DDS, MDSc**, Siribang-on Piboonniyom Khovidhunkit DDS, DMSc**
Affiliation :
* Dental Unit, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
** Department of Advanced General Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : Oral dryness can contribute to several diseases in the oral cavity. The objective of the present study was to
compare the subjective oral dryness, salivary flow rates, the number of oral microbiota, and the dental status between
medicated hypertensive patients and control subjects.
Material and Method: Four hundred subjects including 200 ambulatory hypertensive patients who were taking
antihypertensive medications and 200 control subjects were included. Each subject’s medical history was reviewed. The
subject’s oral health status, salivary flow rate, and the number of oral microbiota were also evaluated.
Results : The prevalence rate of xerostomia in the medicated hypertensive group was 50% whereas only 25.5% of the control
group had xerostomia (p < 0.05). Using modified Schirmer test (MST), the mean unstimulated salivary flow rate of the
medicated hypertensive group (23.11 + 6.08 mm/3min) was significantly lower than that of the control group (31.30 + 3.36
mm/3min) (p < 0.05). In addition, the mean stimulated salivary flow rate of the medicated hypertensive group (0.73 + 0.30
ml/min) was also significantly lower than that of the control group (1.31 + 0.34 ml/min) (p < 0.05). The strongest associated
factor for dry mouth was the use of antihypertensive medications (OR = 6.28). The mean levels of mutans streptococci,
Lactobacilli spp. and Candida spp. in the medicated hypertensive group were significantly higher than in the control group
(p < 0.05). Furthermore, medicated hypertensive patients were more likely to have missing teeth compared to control subjects.
Conclusion : Xerostomia, hyposalivation, and increasing number of oral microbiota were more prevalent in hypertensive
patients taking antihypertensive medications.
Keywords : Xerostomia, Salivation, Oral microorganism, Antihypertensive drugs, Hypertension
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