Effect of a Moisturizing Spray on the Oral Moisture and Microbiota of a Xerostomic Patient

Abstract

The number of patients with xerostomia has lately been increasing. Saliva contains various enzymes and immunoglobulins, which play important roles in maintaining oral functions. Xerostomia decreases saliva secretion and seriously impairs quality of life, and may also influence oral microbiota. We analyzed the microbiota of the dorsum of the tongue of a severely xerostomic patient using molecular microbiological techniques. We also evaluated the moisture of the oral mucosa and the microbiota of the dorsum of the tongue of the patient after administering a moisturizing spray which contains lactoferrin, β-glucan, and hyaluronic acid. Before administering the spray, bacteria of three genera, Eubacterium, Actinobacterium, and Peptostreptococcus, were detected in the mouth of the patient. These bacteria were thought to be characteristic to the patient since they were not detected in the mouths of healthy controls. Moisture of the oral mucosa increased after 3 weeks’ administration of the moisturizing spray. After 5 weeks’ administration, the microbiota of the patient became closer to that of healthy controls, and the abovementioned bacteria also disappeared. These results in this case with severe xerostomia revealed that administration of the spray effectively improved the moisture of the oral mucosa and changed the oral microbiota pattern.