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Copyright @ Pol J Cosmetol
Pol J Cosmetol 2007, 10(2): 80-90pl,en  Artificial salivaDominika Jackiewicz-Barańska, Elżbieta Kamysz, Zbigniew Maćkiewicz Wydział Chemii, Uniwersytet Gdański Summary Much attention has recently been paid to artificial saliva and agents stimulating its secretion in people with xerostomia (dry mouth). Both artificial saliva and its substitutes are formulated in such a way as to mimic natural human saliva that moisturizes and coats the oral cavity and prevents dental abrasion. Majority present preparations exert equal cosmetic and therapeutic specificity. In this review, general characteristics of saliva have been given, as well as its functions, etiology of xerostomia as a syndrome associated with suppressed salivary secretion. Also the benefits and shortcomings of a variety of artificial saliva formulations and agents stimulating salivary secretion actually used for the treatment of xerostomia have been described. The choice of medication depends on excretory condition of the salivary glands and possibility of their stimulation. Human saliva substitutes are used when the volume of the excreted saliva is unsatisfactory. They differ from each other in chemical composition and viscosity. The substitutes are administered to patients whose suppressed excretion of saliva is an outcome of various factors, such as multiple medication, head and neck radiotherapy, Sjögrenns syndrome and dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. All those factors evoke serious pathological conditions and worsening of the quality of life through fungal infections, stomatitis and intensification of carietic processes. To date, no preparation has been invented that would be an ideal substitute for natural human saliva as regards its physical and chemical properties and performing its complex functions. Key words: artificial saliva, saliva, xerostomia, saliva substitutes |