The secretion of parotid saliva as stimulated by 10% citric acid is not related to precipitating factors in burning mouth syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is known to have multiple precipitating factor s and exists in various clinical subtypes. If salivary gland function was c ompromised in EMS it could help explain the link with diverse precipitating factors. This study quantified stimulated right and left parotid flow rate s (SPFR) in 114 patients with EMS. It also attempted to correlate SPFR with haematinic parameters, oral candidal carriage, concurrent drug therapy and EMS subtype, No relationship was found between haematinic parameters and S PFR nor between SPFR and oral candidal carriage. Patients with Type 2 EMS h ad a significant reduction in SPFR, Antidepressant medication was associate d with reduced SPFR but there was no such association with either tranquill isers or hypnotics. These results provide evidence of reduced parotid gland function in Type 2 EMS and a role for antidepressant medication in reducin g SPFR.