• 8/23/2007
  • United Kingdom
  • Roger Dobson
  • Daily Mail (www.dailymail.co.uk)

An electrical saliva ‘stimulator’ is being used for patients who suffer from a chronically dry mouth. The battery-powered device is embedded in a mouthguard that fits over the teeth and is operated by a handheld remote control. It sends out mild pulses of electricity, not felt by the patient, to stimulate the nerves that control the release of saliva.

Dry mouth and lack of saliva is a common problem that affects around one in ten adults at some time. It occurs when the glands in the mouth that make saliva are not working properly, and there are several possible reasons for this.

More than 400 medicines, including some over-the-counter formulations, can cause the salivary glands to make less saliva, or to change its composition so it doesn’t work properly.

Some chemotherapy cancer treatments make saliva thicker, so less lubricating, and injury to the head or neck can damage the nerves that activate the salivary glands.

According to the journal Advances In Clinical Neuroscience And Rehabilitation, there are up to 10 million people with dry mouth in the UK.

Other symptoms can include bad breath, a sore throat, a burning mouth and an altered sense of taste. These symptoms have an effect on digestion and dental health because the low levels of saliva mean people with dry mouth lack the enzymes that help break down food. A number of other compounds contained in saliva fight the bacteria that form dental plaque and cause decay and gum disease.

A healthy adult produces around three pints of saliva a day, but as people age, this reduces – a problem compounded as they are also more likely to be taking medication, some of which – including antihistamines, high blood pressure medications and muscle relaxants
– can cause dry mouth.

The problem can also be an underlying symptom of a number of serious medical conditions, including the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, stroke and depression.

There are a several products on the market designed to provide moisture – usually gels or sprays to make the mouth moist – but the new device is the first to restore natural saliva production through electro-stimulation.

The stimulated nerves excite both the salivary glands directly to get them to secrete more natural saliva, and also stimulate the salivation control centre in the brain.

Putting in the device is straightforward. First a dentist makes an impression of the patient’s teeth which is sent to developers Saliwell Medical.

They embed the equipment in a mouthguard that sits over the teeth and which can be removed by the patient when not in use.

The device can also be incorporated into a dental crown. It needs to be replaced once a year, the expected lifetime of the battery.

Patients are advised to use the device initially for ten minutes whenever there are symptoms of dry mouth. The company says users will learn to adjust the length of use, which can be as short as one minute, according to their needs. SOME patients report sufficient effect by using it for one minute three to four times a day, others need more time, about five minutes, they say.

Clinical trials have demonstrated a significant increase in saliva secretion and relief to patients.

Saliwell says: “Compared to the available treatments it offers a permanent, cost-effective and side-effect-free treatment for xerostomia or dry mouth.”

Gordon Watkins, a member of the British Dental Association’s health committee, said: “It sounds very interesting, although we would need to see the results of trials.

“Dry mouth is a significant and debilitating problem for many people and anything new that worked would be welcomed. All we can really offer people is saliva substitutes which are not very satisfactory.”