Impact of ageing and drug consumption on oral health

Abstract

The impact of ageing on oral health and salivary flow is usually over-estimated possibly because of the high frequency of polypharmacy observed in this subset of patients. Understanding the physiological changes and treatment-related oral complications of older patients is essential to promote accurate management of symptoms and improve their quality of life. The current paper reviews age-related physiological chances in salivary glands and the effect of polypharmacy on oral health, focusing on xerostomia and hyposalivation.