Xerostomia and medication: a cross-sectional study in long-term geriatric wards

Oral symptoms in dying nursing home patients. Results from the prospective REDIC study

BACKGROUND

The mouth is a central organ for communication and fluid intake, also for dying nursing home patients. This study describes the prevalence and severity of oral symptoms from nursing home admission until the day of perceived dying and the day of death.

METHODS

A prospective, longitudinal cohort study including 696 patients who were admitted to 47 Norwegian nursing homes in 35 municipalities. During the first year of their stay, 189 died (27%), of whom 82 participants were assessed on the day they were perceived as dying and 134 on the day of death. Mouth care, nutrition, and bedsores were assessed with the Residents' Assessment Instrument for nursing homes (RAI-NH) and palliative care (RAI-PC). Pain intensity was assessed with the Mobilization-Observation-Behaviour-Intensity-Dementia-2 Pain Scale (MOBID-2).

RESULTS

The proportion of patients with ≥ 6 oral symptoms increased from 16% when perceived as dying to 20% on the day of death (P = 0.001). On the day of death, xerostomia (66%), dysphagia (59%), and mastication problems (50%) were the most frequently observed oral symptoms. Only 16% received mouth care every hour and 12% were in pain during this procedure. Compared to people without dementia, those with a diagnosis of dementia at admission (N = 112, 86%) had xerostomia and mastication problems more frequently (50% vs. 73%; 32% vs. 56% (P = 0.038), respectively) on the day of death.

CONCLUSIONS

The high extent of oral symptoms such as xerostomia, dysphagia, and mastication problems underline the need for systematic assessment and improved oral palliative care for dying nursing home patients with dementia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01920100 08/08/2013. First submission to BMC oral 15/03/2023.

Clinical and Subjective Oral Health Status of Care Home Residents in Europe: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Several studies demonstrated the poor oral health of care home residents in Europe but there is no systematic overview of the relevant literature. The objective of this study was to systematically review the evidence on the clinical and subjective oral health outcomes of care home residents in Europe.

DESIGN

The study design is a systematic review.

METHODS AND PARTICIPANTS

All included publications presented data on clinical and/or subjective oral health outcomes in care home residents in Europe with no restrictions for language or study design. MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL were searched, including publications from January 2010 onward. Data extraction and quality assessment (Qualsyst tool) was performed by 2 researchers independently. Findings were synthesized narratively, lack in data homogeneity restricted the relevance of a meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Eighty-three papers from 18 countries were included in the systematic review, with a sample size ranging from 39 to 92,827 participants. Their mean age was older than 80 years. The residents had few natural teeth, with fewer than a third a functional natural dentition. Removable dentures were present in half to 80% of residents. A high prevalence of dental caries was reported. Oral hygiene was insufficient, for both natural teeth and removable dentures. Few residents had a healthy periodontium. Clinical treatment needs were found in most residents. Perceived treatment needs were high with at least one-third of care home residents reporting a need for care due to poor oral health. A fifth to half of the residents reported negative impacts of their oral condition on their everyday lives.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

This systematic review clearly highlights the poor oral health and high burden of oral conditions among care home residents across Europe, irrespective of country or health care system. There is need for substantial policy actions to improve oral health in care homes.

Risk factors associated with xerostomia and reduced salivary flow in hypertensive patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with xerostomia and hyposalivation in a group of hypertensive patients.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted. Hypertensive patients belonged to two healthcare centers were included. Xerostomia was assessed by asking a question and using the Xerostomia Inventory. Unstimulated salivary flow was collected. Different epidemiological variables were analyzed such as age, sex, habits, diseases, drugs, and blood pressure.

RESULTS

221 individuals were included. Xerostomia was reported in 51.13% of patients. Patients with xerostomia suffered more from osteoarthritis and diaphragmatic hernia. These patients took more anticoagulants (acenocoumarol), antiarrhythmics (amiodarone), analgesics (paracetamol) and epilepsy drugs (pregabalin) and less platelet aggregation inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (losartan). Unstimulated flow was reduced in 37.56% of patients. Patients suffering hyposalivation presented more diseases such as anxiety, infectious or parasitic diseases, hepatitis C, diaphragmatic hernia, and osteoarthritis. These patients took more repaglinide, thiazides, anti-inflammatories, anti-rheumatics, glucosamine, diazepam, and selective beta-2-adrenoreceptor agonists and less combinations of candesartan and diuretics.

CONCLUSIONS

Xerostomia and hyposalivation are frequent in hypertensive patients. It is advisable to take into consideration the comorbidities and the drugs they receive, since they can increase the risk of these salivary disorders.

World Workshop on Oral Medicine VIII: Development of a Core Outcome Set for Dry Mouth: A Systematic Review of Outcome Domains for Xerostomia

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to identify all outcome domains used in clinical studies of xerostomia, that is, subjective sensation of dry mouth. This study is part of the extended project "World Workshop on Oral Medicine Outcomes Initiative for the Direction of Research" to develop a core outcome set for dry mouth.

STUDY DESIGN

A systematic review was performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. All clinical and observational studies that assessed xerostomia in human participants from 2001 to 2021 were included. Information on outcome domains was extracted and mapped to the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials taxonomy. Corresponding outcome measures were summarized.

RESULTS

From a total of 34,922 records retrieved, 688 articles involving 122,151 persons with xerostomia were included. There were 16 unique outcome domains and 166 outcome measures extracted. None of these domains or measures were consistently used across all the studies. The severity of xerostomia and physical functioning were the 2 most frequently assessed domains.

CONCLUSION

There is considerable heterogeneity in outcome domains and measures reported in clinical studies of xerostomia. This highlights the need for harmonization of dry mouth assessment to enhance comparability across studies and facilitate the synthesis of robust evidence for managing patients with xerostomia.

Association between anticholinergic activity and xerostomia and/ or xerophthalmia in the elderly: systematic review

PURPOSE

The aim of this work was to investigate the association between anticholinergic burden or anticholinergic drug use and xerostomia and/or xerophtalmia in elderly through a systematic review of the published literature.

METHODS

A search was carried out in 3 databases (CINAHL, Embase and Pubmed). Studies conducted in people ≥65 years of age, who took anticholinergic medications, and measured the association between the anticholinergic burden or the use of these medications with the prevalence of xerostomia and / or xerophthalmia, published up to August 2022, were selected. Studies published in languages other than Spanish and/or English were excluded.

RESULTS

One thousand two hundred eleven articles were identified, 10 were selected for this review: six cross-sectional studies, two cohorts, one case-control and one randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 3535 patients included in the different studies were studied. The most used scales were the Anticholinergic Drug Scale (ADS) and the Anticholinergic Risk Scale (ARS). Four articles studied the relationship between the use of anticholinergic medication and the prevalence of xerostomia and / or xerophthalmia, finding a positive relationship with xerostomia in all of them. Another 6 measured the relationship between anticholinergic burden and xerostomia and / or xerophthalmia. Four found a positive relationship between anticholinergic burden and xerostomia and/or xerophthalmia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest a clear relationship between the use of anticholinergic drugs or anticholinergic burden and the presence of xerostomia. This relationship was less conclusive in the case of xerophthalmia.

Impaired Oral Health in Older Orthopaedic In-Care Patients: The Influence of Medication and Morbidity

Introduction

Fall-related injuries are prevalent in older patients and often lead to increased morbidity, medication, and impaired functions. We studied older trauma patients with the aim to describe their oral health in comparison to morbidity and medication.

Material and Methods

The study included 198 patients, ≥65 years, admitted with an orthopedic trauma. Oral examinations included number of natural teeth, dental implants, missing, decayed and restored teeth, root remnants, and pocket depth. Data on comorbidities and medication were assembled. Statistical analyses were carried out with logistic regression models, adjusted for age, gender, comorbidity, and polypharmacy.

Results

Overall, 198 patients participated, 71% women, mean age 81 years (±7.9), 85% resided in their own homes, 86% had hip fractures. Chronic diseases and drug use were present in 98.9%, a mean of 6.67 in Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), 40% heart diseases, 17% diabetes, and 14% dementia. Ninety-one percent were dentate (181), mean number of teeth 19.2 (±6.5), 24% had decayed teeth, 97% filled teeth, 44% <20 teeth, and 26% oral dryness. DFT (decayed, filled teeth) over mean were identified in patients with diabetes (p=0.037), COPD (p=0.048), polypharmacy (p=0.011), diuretics (p=0.007), and inhalation drugs (p=0.032). Use of ≥2 strong anticholinergic drugs were observed in patients with <20 teeth and DFT over mean (p=0.004, 0.003). Adjusted for age, gender, CCI, and polypharmacy.

Conclusion

The study showed that impaired oral health was prevalent in older trauma patients and that negative effects on oral health were significantly associated with chronic diseases and drug use. The results emphasize the importance of identifying orthogeriatric patients with oral health problems and to stress the necessity to uphold good oral care during a period when functional decline can be expected.

Examination of factors affecting oral health in patients receiving haemodialysis

BACKGROUND

Patients receiving haemodialysis suffer from oral problems, pain, deteriorated nutrition, and decreased self-confidence and quality of life. Nurses have a critical role in the evaluation and care of oral health.

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to investigate the associations between socio-demographic characteristics, medication use, and biochemical blood levels and oral health in adult patients receiving haemodialysis treatment.

DESIGN

This study was conducted as a descriptive study.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample study was made up of one hundred and fifty individuals treated with haemodialysis between March and June 2018.

MEASUREMENTS

Patient diagnosis and Bedside Oral Exam guide was the tool used to examine oral health.

RESULTS

It was seen that patients' oral health worsened as the number of dental caries increased. It was found that low level of education, those with nonregular oral care and brushing teeth, those using parathyroid hormone-lowering agents and who stated they complied with the drug and diet therapy had higher mean Bedside Oral Exam guide scores, meaning their oral health was statistically significantly worse (p < 0.05). Bedside Oral Exam guide scores were weakly negatively correlated with predialysis serum potassium levels (r = -0.213; p = 0.009), weakly positively correlated with the daily fluid amount consumed (r = -0.185; p = 0.024), and decayed teeth (r = -0.224; p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of parathyroid hormone-lowering agents, low level of education, insufficient oral care, decayed teeth, compliance with diet and medication, daily liquid consumption, and low potassium levels could lead to an increased severity of poor oral health in patients receiving haemodialysis. Oral and dental health protocols should be developed for all haemodialysis units.

Smad7 attenuates TGF-β-mediated aging-related hypofunction of submandibular glands

Submandibular glands have essential functions in taste, mastication, swallowing, and digestion. Submandibular gland hypofunction is prevalent in the elderly, impairing the patients' quality of life. Current clinical treatment strategies have not decelerated or reversed the pathological process of submandibular gland hypofunction. Therefore, novel restoration strategies should be explored. However, studies on the mechanism of aging-related submandibular gland hypofunction remain very limited. The role of the TGF-β/Smad pathway in fibrosis has been studied in other organs. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the role of TGF-β/Smad signaling in the aging-related submandibular gland hypofunction. The results showed that Smad7 knockout in mice decreased the salivary flow rate. H&E, Masson trichrome, and immunohistochemistry staining of MCP-1 and α-SMA showed that Smad7 knockout in mice resulted in lymphocytic infiltration, acinar cell atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis. The Western blotting of collagen I and III also confirmed extensive fibrosis. We then found that Smad7 depletion resulted in the TGF-β-mediated fibrosis via mir-21, mir-29, and np_5318, and NFκB-driven inflammation activation. This study confirmed the inhibitory role of Smad7 in the aging-related submandibular gland hypofunction. Therefore, it provided a promising treatment target for aging-related dysfunction and sialadenitis of submandibular gland.

A pilot study on the effects of transcutaneous and transmucosal laser irradiation on blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol in women

The present pilot study had the objective to determine the effects of transcutaneous and transmucosal laser irradiation on arterial blood pressure (ABP), glucose (Glu) triglycerides (Tg), total cholesterol (Ch), high-density level cholesterol (HDL) and low-density cholesterol (LDL) immediately after treatment (T0) and after 30 (T30) and 60 (T60) days. Patients (n = 36) were selected and randomly distributed into 6 groups (n = 6/group; [G1] negative control, [G2] radial artery transcutaneous laser irradiation [G3] radial artery transcutaneous irradiation, [G4] transmucosal sublingual irradiation, [G5] transmucosal intra-nasal irradiation and [G6] extended radial artery transcutaneous irradiation). Blood exams were performed at T0, T30 and T60. Systolic and diastolic pressure results have indicated that patients' pressures ranged from 90 mmHg (P22, T30, G4) to 189 mmHg (P16, T0, G3) and 54 mmHg (P21, T60, G4) to 175 mmHg (P16, T30, G3). Levels of Glu at T30 and T60 varied from 5.53% (G1) to -5.78% (G6) and 1.21 (G2) to -8.69 (G6), respectively. Data was statistically assessed for normality and homogeneity of variances using the F-statistic and Bartlett's tests. Significant differences were determined using One-Way ANOVA and Fischer post hoc tests. Results indicated that treatments investigated can be safely used as an adjunct method to regulate blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol.

Taste Sensitivity of Elderly People Is Associated with Quality of Life and Inadequate Dietary Intake

Aging has been implicated in the alteration of taste acuity. Diet can affect taste sensitivity. We aimed to investigate the types of tastes altered in elderly Korean people and factors associated with taste alteration in relation to dietary intake and other factors. Elderly participants (≥65 years) and young adults were assessed to determine their recognition thresholds (RT) for sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami tastes. Elderly participants were further surveyed for dietary intake and non-nutritional factors. Five taste RTs were correlated with age, but only four taste RTs, except sweetness, differed between the elderly participants and young adults. Inadequate intake of iron, thiamin, folic acid, zinc, and phosphorus among the elderly participants was related to elevated taste RT levels, except for bitter taste. In both correlation and regression analyses, only salty and sour RTs were associated with energy, iron, thiamin, fiber, vitamin C, and riboflavin levels in the elderly participants. The elderly participants’ taste RTs exhibited strong associations with quality of life (QOL) but showed partial relationships with physical activity, number of medicine intakes, social gatherings, and education. Taste sensitivity may decrease with age, which is further influenced by insufficient dietary intake, especially iron and thiamin, and QOL.

Using Salivary Cortisol as an Objective Measure of Physiological Stress in People With Dementia and Chronic Pain: A Pilot Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND

Pain can elevate stress in people with dementia. Although salivary cortisol is used as a biomarker of stress in people with dementia, few studies have reported the feasibility of collection methods to assess salivary cortisol in nursing home residents with both dementia and chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the feasibility of collecting cortisol via salivary swab as an indicator of stress in people with dementia and chronic pain.

METHODS

Participants (N = 43) aged ≥ 65 years and living with dementia and chronic pain were randomly assigned to the PARO (individual, nonfacilitated, 30-min sessions with the robotic seal PARO, 5 days per week for 6 weeks) or usual-care group using computer-generated random numbers. Salivary cortisol was collected in the early morning before the intervention (Week 0) and at the completion of the intervention (Week 6) for comparison.

RESULTS

There were multiple challenges associated with saliva collection and analysis, including cognitive impairment of participants, ability to obtain repeated samples with saliva volume adequate for assay, and overall cost. Ultimately, adequate saliva was collected from only 8 participants (both pre- and post-intervention) for assay and quantitative analysis.

CONCLUSION

Considering the multiple challenges involved in obtaining valid saliva samples in this population, salivary cortisol may not be a feasible biomarker of physiological stress in people with dementia and chronic pain.

Enhanced Inflammation and Nitrosative Stress in the Saliva and Plasma of Patients with Plaque Psoriasis

Psoriasis is the most common inflammatory skin disease, characterized by the release ofproinflammatory cytokines from lymphocytes, keratinocytes, and dendritic cells. Although psoriasis is considered an immune-mediated inflammatory disease, its effect on secretory activity of salivary glands and quantitative composition of saliva is still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the secretion of saliva as well as several selected inflammation and nitrosative stress biomarkers in unstimulated and stimulated saliva as well as plasma of psoriasis patients. We demonstrated that, with progressing severity and duration of the disease, the&nbsp; secretory function of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands is lost, which is&nbsp; manifested as decreased unstimulated and stimulated saliva secretion and reduced salivary amylase activity and total protein concentration. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (INF-α) were significantly higher, whereas interleukin-10 (IL-10) content was considerably lower in unstimulated and stimulated saliva of patients with psoriasis compared to the controls, and the changes increased with the disease duration. Similarly, we observed that the intensity of nitrosative stress in the salivary glands of psoriasis patients depended on the duration of the disease. By means of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, we showed that the evaluation of nitric oxide (NO), nitrotyrosine, and IL-2 concentration in non-stimulated saliva with high sensitivity and specificity differentiatedpsoriasis patients on the basis of the rate of saliva secretion (normal salivation vs. hyposalivation). In summary, the dysfunction of salivary glands in psoriasis patients is caused by inflammation and nitrosative stress.

Evaluate five different diagnostic tests for dry mouth assessment in geriatric residents in long-term institutions in Taiwan

Background

Residents in long-term care (LTC) institutions require care plans to effectively resolve dry mouth. Simple and easily comprehensible dry mouth indices must be developed to assist care professionals in determining dry mouth among residents. Therefore, this study aim of the study was to evaluate five different diagnostic tests for dry mouth assessment.

Methods

A total of 568 residents were recruited from several LTC institutions in central Taiwan. The research instruments and tools comprised of the characteristics of the residents, state of oral health care, self-perceived ability to chew food, Taiwanese short-form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-7 T), self-perceived levels of dry mouth, oral moisture checking, and a repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST). The data collected were analyzed through demographic analysis, Correlation coefficient and chi-squared automatic interaction detection.

Results

Results of the decision tree analysis indicated that RSST results, tooth brushing frequency, and age were the three indices that exerted the greatest influence on oral moisture levels. Specifically, in residents with relatively high RSST results, a daily tooth brushing frequency > 1, and an age < 68 years exhibited more favorable oral moisture levels. The results indicated that residents’ self-perceived oral status was not associated with their oral moisture levels.

Conclusion

The three indices can be provided to LTC institutions for on-site assessment of dry mouth among residents to facilitate early detection of those with dry mouth.

Examination of intensive care unit patients' oral health

BACKGROUND

Oral health problems are common complications that most intensive care unit patients experience. There are many factors that affect oral health negatively and nurses have important responsibilities in this regard.

AIM

The aim of this study was assessment of the intensive care unit patients' oral health and risk factors.

METHODS

This study was planned as a descriptive study and conducted between December 2015 and June 2016, with 202 patients in 20 intensive care units of 6 hospitals in Turkey. Data were collected via Data Collection Form and Bedside Oral Exam guide. Oral health assessment of patients was made using a source of light and a tongue depressor.

RESULTS

We observed a significant difference in score of the Bedside Oral Exam guide by age, consciousness, type of respiration and feeding, the frequency of oral health, the total number of drugs, and technique of oral care (P < 0.05). None of the intensive care units were using the oral assessment guide.

CONCLUSION

The result of this study shows that there are various risk factors that adversely affect the oral health of intensive care unit patients. Nurses should undertake assessments on the basis of oral care protocols for patients at risk and carry out evidence-based individualized oral care applications.

Association Between Malnutrition and Oral Health in Dutch Nursing Home Residents: Results of the LPZ Study

INTRODUCTION

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and FDI World Dental Federation (FDI), malnutrition and bad oral health are of great concern to global health, especially among the older population. This study aimed to assess the associations between oral health problems ([artificial] teeth problems, chewing problems, and xerostomia) and malnutrition in residents of somatic and psychogeriatric wards in Dutch nursing homes.

METHODS

Data of the cross-sectional National Prevalence Measurement of Quality of Care study (Landelijke Prevalentiemeting Zorgproblemen study) in the Netherlands were used to evaluate nutritional status and oral health of 3220 residents, aged 65 or older and living in somatic or psychogeriatric wards in Dutch nursing homes. Cox regression was performed to calculate prevalence ratios (PR) of malnutrition among these residents.

RESULTS

Of the total study population, 11.7% were malnourished, 28.6% suffered from xerostomia, 25.6% suffered from chewing problems, and 10.1% experienced problems eating due to (artificial) teeth problems. Within somatic wards, 9.0% were malnourished, whereas 13.2% of residents in psychogeriatric wards were malnourished. Increased risk for malnutrition was found among psychogeriatric residents who had problems with eating due to (artificial) teeth problems (PR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.3).

CONCLUSION

Poor oral health, mostly problems with eating due to (artificial) teeth problems, was associated with an almost twofold risk for malnutrition in older residents in Dutch nursing homes and even more so in psychogeriatric residents than in somatic residents.

World Workshop on Oral Medicine VI: a systematic review of medication-induced salivary gland dysfunction

The aim of this paper was to perform a systematic review of the pathogenesis of medication-induced salivary gland dysfunction (MISGD). Review of the identified papers was based on the standards regarding the methodology for systematic reviews set forth by the World Workshop on Oral Medicine IV and the PRISMA statement. Eligible papers were assessed for both the degree and strength of relevance to the pathogenesis of MISGD as well as on the appropriateness of the study design and sample size. A total of 99 papers were retained for the final analysis. MISGD in human studies was generally reported as xerostomia (the sensation of oral dryness) without measurements of salivary secretion rate. Medications may act on the central nervous system (CNS) and/or at the neuroglandular junction on muscarinic, α-and β-adrenergic receptors and certain peptidergic receptors. The types of medications that were most commonly implicated for inducing salivary gland dysfunction were those acting on the nervous, cardiovascular, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and alimentary systems. Although many medications may affect the salivary flow rate and composition, most of the studies considered only xerostomia. Thus, further human studies are necessary to improve our understanding of the association between MISGD and the underlying pathophysiology.

Antiseptic mouthwashes could worsen xerostomia in patients taking polypharmacy

OBJECTIVE

Polypharmacy is a common cause of xerostomia. This study aimed to investigate whether xerostomia could be an adverse drug event of mouthwashes, when they are used for longer than 2 weeks by patients taking polypharmacy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional observational study included 120 hospitalized patients (60 middle-aged and 60 elderly patients), taking polypharmacy (≥4 drugs daily) and at risk of drug-induced xerostomia. Xerostomia was assessed by questioning participants.

RESULTS

A total of 62.5% of patients complained of xerostomia. In the middle-aged group (mean age=44.0 (8.7) years; 35.0% women) xerostomia seemed independently associated to mouthwashes, at the limit of significance (OR=5.00, 95% CI=0.99-25.3, p=0.052). Active principles in mouthwashes were mainly quaternary ammonium compounds (91.9%). Mouthwashes may disturb the healthy balance of the biofilm moisturizing the oral mucosa. The biofilm contains mucins, salivary glycoproteins with oligosaccharides side chains able to sequester water and endogenous bacteria surrounded by a glycocalyx. Oral bacteria are fully susceptible to quaternary ammonium (chlorhexidine, hexetidine, cetylpyridinium chloride) and to other antiseptics used in mouthwashes, such as betain, resorcin, triclosan, essential oils and alcohol. However, caregivers currently recommend such dental plaque control products to patients suffering from xerostomia in order to reduce the risk of caries and periodontitis.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first report that use of antiseptic mouthwashes for more than 2 weeks could worsen xerostomia in patients taking polypharmacy. Oral care protocols should avoid this iatrogenic practice, particularly when xerostomia alters the quality-of-life and worsens malnutrition.

Recent mouse and rat methods for the study of experimental oral candidiasis

The Candida genus expresses virulence factors that, when combined with immunosuppression and other risk factors, can cause different manifestations of oral candidiasis. The treatment of mucosal infections caused by Candida and the elucidation of the disease process have proven challenging. Therefore, the study of experimentally induced oral candidiasis in rats and mice is useful to clarify the etiopathology of this condition, improve diagnosis, and search for new therapeutic options because the disease process in these animals is similar to that of human candidiasis lesions. Here, we describe and discuss new studies involving rat and mouse models of oral candidiasis with respect to methods for inducing experimental infection, methods for evaluating the development of experimental candidiasis, and new treatment strategies for oral candidiasis.