Turner Michael D, Ship Jonathan A
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, New York University College of Dentistry, New York City, USA.
J Am Dent Assoc. 2007 Sep;138 Suppl:15S-20S. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.2007.0358.
The objective of this literature review is to summarize information about the etiology, diagnosis, oral sequelae and treatment of dry mouth in elderly patients.
The authors conducted a comprehensive review of the English-based scientific literature from the past 10 years. They selected the studies on the basis of clinical investigations to provide an objective assessment of dry mouth problems among older people.
Dry mouth (salivary hypofunction, xerostomia) is a common problem among older people. It causes significant oropharyngeal disorders, pain and an impaired quality of life. Dry mouth has many causes, from local salivary disorders to a plethora of medications and medical conditions. Treatments are designed to correct the underlying cause and/or to enhance salivation with topical and systemic stimulants. Early intervention for dry mouth problems helps prevent the deleterious consequences of this disorder in elderly people.
Clinicians must be aware of dry mouth problems in older patients, and they should be prepared to provide a diagnosis and administer treatment to protect a patient's oropharyngeal health and quality of life.
本综述的目的是总结老年患者口干症的病因、诊断、口腔后遗症及治疗方面的信息。
作者对过去10年以英文发表的科学文献进行了全面综述。他们基于临床研究选择这些研究，以对老年人的口干问题进行客观评估。
口干（唾液腺功能减退、口腔干燥症）是老年人中的常见问题。它会导致严重的口咽疾病、疼痛及生活质量受损。口干有许多原因，从局部唾液腺疾病到大量的药物及医疗状况。治疗旨在纠正潜在病因和/或使用局部和全身刺激剂增加唾液分泌。对口干问题进行早期干预有助于预防该病症对老年人产生的有害后果。
临床医生必须了解老年患者的口干问题，并且应准备好进行诊断和治疗，以保护患者的口咽健康和生活质量。
