CONDIÇÕES SISTÊMICAS QUE LEVAM A HIPOSSALIVAÇÃO E XEROSTOMIA: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

Salivary flow alterations can be caused by various pathologies and systemic conditions in patients, such as diabetes, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatments, medication use, neurological impairments, and even aging. The aim of this literature review is to analyze the importance of saliva in the oral cavity and highlight the different systemic conditions that may reduce salivary flow. When there is hypofunction of the salivary glands, the condition is called hyposalivation, which may or may not progress to xerostomia (dry mouth sensation). This alteration in salivary flow can lead to both biological and psychosocial complications, such as halitosis, difficulty swallowing, increased susceptibility to periodontal disease, dental caries, and candidiasis. It is concluded that understanding alterations in salivary flow allows for a more comprehensive approach to the patient, correlating their systemic condition with oral health, which contributes to more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatments in dental clinical practice.