Causes and Etiology of Hyposalivation
A decrease in saliva secretion develops under the influence of various pathological factors. The main causes can be divided into several groups:
- Direct damage to the salivary glands: inflammatory processes (sialadenitis), destruction by tumor tissue, atrophy, the effects of toxins, ionizing radiation, and other factors.
- Duct obstruction: mechanical compression of the ducts from the outside (by tumors, scar tissue, edema fluid) or blockage from the inside by thick secretions, which is characteristic, for example, of cystic fibrosis.
- Systemic hypohydration: significant or prolonged fluid loss reduces the liquid component of saliva.
- Disorders of neurohumoral regulation: lesions of the cerebral cortex and hypothalamic neurons, pathologies of the nerve trunks innervating the glands, and hyperthyroid states.
Consequences of Saliva Deficiency
A lack of saliva in the oral cavity triggers a chain of pathological changes in the digestive system and local tissues:
- Impaired bolus formation: food is insufficiently moistened and swells poorly.
- Chewing and swallowing difficulties: develop due to a lack of lubrication and xerostomia (dryness of the oral mucosa).
- Mechanical trauma: the dry mucosa is damaged by poorly chewed and insufficiently moistened food particles.
- Oral and dental pathologies: frequent stomatitis, gingivitis, glossitis, and dental caries. This is associated with a deficiency of bactericidal substances and lysozyme in saliva.
- Impaired carbohydrate digestion: caused by a deficiency of salivary amylase, although this deficit is usually compensated for by intestinal enzymes.