EFFECTS OF ORAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS CONTAINING LACTOPEROXIDASE, LYSOZYME, AND LACTOFERRIN ON THE COMPOSITION OF WHOLE SALIVA AND ON SUBJECTIVEORAL SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH XEROSTOMIA

This study evaluates the effects of two oral hygiene products containi ng nonimmunoglobulin antimicrobial agents on whole saliva and on subje ctive oral symptoms in patients with xerostomia. Twenty patients used a lactoperoxidase-system-containing toothpaste (Biotene(R)) combined w ith the use of a mouthrinse (Biotene(R)), comprising also lysozyme and lactoferrin, for 4 weeks. Saliva samples were collected at base line, after 4 weeks' use of the products, and at the end of a 4-week washou t period. Samples were analyzed for selected biochemical and microbiol ogic factors. The effects on subjective oral symptoms were also record ed. A 4-week daily use of toothpaste and mouthrinse relieved the sympt oms of oral dryness in 16 patients. The levels of salivary hypothiocya nite, lysozyme, lactoferrin, or myeloperoxidase activity did not chang e, but there was a significant decrease in salivary pH (P < 0.05), tot al peroxidase activity (P < 0.05), and total protein content (P = 0.01 ). In patients with the lowest salivary flow rates (n = 5) a significa nt (P less than or equal to 0.04) increase was detected in salivary hy pothiocyanite concentrations. No major changes occurred in salivary mi croflora. The products relieved subjective oral symptoms in most xeros tomic patients, but this was not necessarily related to the presence o f antimicrobial agents.