Biotene

How dental professionals can help patients with xerostomia

Source: www.dentistryiq.com Author: Jennifer Pettit, CRDH Xerostomia affects up to 65% of the population, according to the American Academy of Oral Medicine.1 Many patients might experience dry mouth and accept it as a part of their life without seeking treatment or mentioning it to a health-care professional. It is important to recognize the signs of xerostomia to help reduce patients' symptoms and prevent the consequences it carries. Xerostomia is the reduction of salivary flow. The majority of saliva is produced by the parotid gland, followed by the lingual and submandibular glands. Saliva plays multiple roles in the oral cavity. It carries enzymes to help us digest food. It moistens food to create a bolus for easy passage through the esophagus. It also carries buffering agents to neutralize the pH of the oral environment, which can help prevent demineralization of tooth structure and caries lesions. It protects the oral mucosa and tongue from irritants such as bacteria and fungus. Lastly, it cleanses the teeth of small food particles.1 Hyposalivation is associated with many factors. According to the American Dental Association, more than 400 medications cause dry mouth as a side effect.2 The most well-known prescriptions to cause dry mouth are antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, bronchodilators, and certain hypertension medications.2 Other factors contributing to low saliva flow are aging, smoking, radiation therapy to the neck and head, and some diseases and conditions such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid dysfunctions, and Sjögren’s syndrome, just to mention a few.2 Oral manifestations of xerostomia include dry [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2019-06-26T06:15:59-07:00June, 2019|Oral Cancer News|

Review Finds Evidence Lacking for Dry Mouth Remedies

Source: Medscape Today December 28, 2011 — There is not enough evidence to recommend any topical therapies for dry mouth, but that does not mean that they do not work, according to investigators who published a review of research on the therapies online December 4 in the Cochrane Library. "There was very little evidence," said Helen Worthington, PhD, a professor of evidence-based care at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. Dr. Worthington and colleagues scoured the literature for randomized controlled trials of topical therapies for dry mouth, or xerostomia. They found 36 studies of treatments such as lozenges, sprays, mouth rinses, gels, oils, chewing gum, and toothpaste. Xerostomia often results from treatments for head and neck cancer that damage the salivary glands, as well as from Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that also damages these glands. It is also a common adverse effect of many medications. The authors cite an estimated prevalence of dry mouth of about 20% in the general population. This percentage may be increasing because people are living longer and suffering from more chronic illnesses for which the treatments can have xerostomia as an adverse effect. It is possible to feel the sensation of dry mouth without having a clinically reduced saliva flow, the researchers point out. The treatments in the review broke down into 2 broad categories: saliva substitutes, in which some other substance is intended to perform the role of the patient's own saliva, and saliva stimulants, which are intended to activate the patient's own [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2011-12-28T15:56:36-07:00December, 2011|Oral Cancer News|

GlaxoSmithKline to acquire the leading dry mouth brand, Biotene

Source: www.marketwatch.com Author: press release GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare announced today that it has reached an agreement with Laclede, a privately held company, to purchase the leading Dry Mouth brand Biotene(R) for $170 million. The transaction is subject to regulatory review by competition authorities in the United States and Europe, and is expected to complete by early 2009. "The acquisition of Biotene extends our portfolio in therapeutic oral healthcare to include a proven treatment for Dry Mouth," said John Clarke, President, GSK Consumer Healthcare. "This opportunity leverages our global capability with dental and medical professionals and is a further step towards our goal in GSK of building and growing a diversified healthcare business." Biotene is the world's number one dentist and hygienist-recommended Dry Mouth product for the growing population that suffers from this condition. Biotene is a brand in strong growth, with global sales in 2007 of around $50 million up 17%. Approximately 65% of the brand's current sales are in the United States. Dry Mouth, a condition known as Xerostomia, is a significant health issue associated with chronic medical conditions that include diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome and Parkinson's disease. Additionally, cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatment, as well as any of more than 400 medications that, as a side-effect, can cause Dry Mouth. Globally, Dry Mouth is as prevalent as dental sensitivity, affecting around one-in-five adults. Biotene joins a world-class portfolio of Oral Healthcare Brands, including: - Aquafresh(R), Odol-med(R), Binaca(R), a leading range of toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes and whitening products [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-10-22T13:40:35-07:00October, 2008|Oral Cancer News|