Salese to Buffer Saliva in Elderly Patients with Xerostomia: a Pilot Study

• Published in: Journal of prosthodontics 2011-02, Vol.20 (2), p.135-138
• Main Authors: Kharevich, Olga, Shipman, Barry, Goldman, Barry M., Nahon, Max
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Buffers; Dentistry; Female; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; lozenges; Male; Middle Aged; multiple medication therapy; Pilot Projects; Polypharmacy; Salese; Saliva - chemistry; Saliva - physiology; Sodium Bicarbonate - administration & dosage; Tablets; Xerostomia; Xerostomia - chemically induced; Xerostomia - drug therapy; Xylitol - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 1059-941X; 1532-849X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-849X.2010.00680.x

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the pH of saliva from xerostomic patients before and after the use of Salese lozenges (Nuvora Inc., Santa Clara, CA). Materials and Methods: After IRB approval, ten subjects were selected to participate in this pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of Salese. The inclusion criteria were patients on multiple medications who demonstrated xerostomia and acidic salivary pH. Saliva was collected from the patients at baseline and after the use of Salese at selected intervals up to 120 minutes. The pH of the collected saliva was measured, and the data were analyzed using an ANOVA. Results: Use of Salese lozenges showed a shift toward a more neutral pH in the first half hour. The pH remained at the same level after the primary shift for at least 2 hours. Conclusions: This pilot study indicates that patients suffering with xerostomia can use Salese lozenges for at least 10‐30 minutes to induce a salivary pH shift to a more neutral level. More research should be performed to investigate the buffering capacity of Salese lozenges.