Chemical Induced Xerostomia Among Institutionalized Eldery

Subjective presence of dry mouth is most common oral problem among the institutionalized elderly. To assess the subjective presence of xerostomia among institutionalized elderly. Total numbers of 70 subjects older than 65 years institutionalized in one nursing home were evaluated. The subjective presence of xerstomia was determinated. To determine the level of expressiveness of xerostomia is used questionnaire recommended by Carda et al. 62.8% from the subjects believed that they had subjective feeling of xerostomia. Most of them, around 40% had mild (xerostomia1), while around 25% of subjects had severe xerostomia (xerostomia 3). Xerostomia is highly prevalent among institutionalized elderly. Also there is high percentage of institutionalized elderly people who use drugs that can cause xerostomi