This review of the side effects of medications prescribed for the management of mental health highlights their potential impact on oral health. The commonest problems being xerostomia.
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This Cochrane review of drugs for the prevention of radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction included 39 studies, while a range of agents was tested the evidence found is not sufficient to highlight much promise in terms of effective preventative treatments.
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This new systematic review explored the links between eating disorders and oral health, which were first noted in the 1970s. Ten studies were included in the review and higher odds of dental erosion were seen in those with eating disorders, with the odds being greater in those with self-induced vomiting.
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The update of a 2007 Cochrane review of parasympathomimetic drugs for dry mouth after radiotherapy did not identify an new studies. The 3 RCTs identified in the previous version provide limited evidence to support the use of pilocarpine hydrochloride in the treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia.
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Xerostomia is a subjective sensation of dry mouth, this is a common symptom particularly in older adults and has a variety of causes. Pilocarpine is a cholinergic agonist that non-selectively binds to muscarinic receptors in smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal, urinary and pulmonary systems and stimulates the production of secretions from the salivary and sweat [read the full story…]
It has been estimated that between 10-26% of men and 10-33% of women experience dry mouth. The subjective sensation of dry mouth is called xerostomia and can be found in people with normal salivary gland function. The normal range of salivary production ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 litres per day. The aim of this Cochrane [read the full story…]
The subjective sensation of dry mouth or xerostomia is a common symptom and estimates of the prevalence vary from 10-50%. The Cochrane Collaboration published systematic of topical treatments for reducing the effects of dry mouth in 2011(Furness et al). Recently the American Dental Association’s Evidence-based Dentistry Center have published a critical summary of this review [read the full story…]
The February issue of the Cochrane Library sees the publication of two new oral health protocols. It will be a little while before the reviews are published. However people for are working in these areas may be interested to know that these reviews are underway. The full text of each protocol is available from the [read the full story…]
The prevalence of persistent dry mouth varies but a conservative estimates is that about 20% in the general population, with increased prevalence in women (up to 30%) and in the elderly (up to 50%). The aim of this Cochrane review was to determine which topical treatments for dry mouth are effective in reducing this symptom. [read the full story…]
