The effect of mucin-containing artificial saliva on severe xerostomia

Abstract The preparation of an artificial saliva from major bovine salivary glands has been described. Its chemical composition has been given and its properties have been compared with those of other saliva substitutes. Microbial contamination was monitored and found to be low. A total of 18 patients suffering from severe xerostomia, in most cases due to irradiation of the salivary glands with X-ray doses of 4,000–8,000 rad, have applied the saliva for periods of up to half a year. Ten of these, who had previously used a synthetic carboxy-methylcellulose-containing saliva, appeared to favor the bovine preparation mainly because of its improved taste and because it remained in the mouth for a longer time. The good moistening and lubricating qualities of the bovine saliva, as well as its ability to protect the mucosa, may be supposed to be due to its high content of mucins. More definitive comparisons between this, bovine preparation and other artificial salivas are in progress.