Discussion
ESRD, xerostomia, infectious oral disorders, dry mouth
CHRONIC ILLNESSES, XEROSTOMIA, DEMINERALIZATION, PERIODONTITIS, CARIES, ORAL CANDIDIASIS, ESRD, HYPOSALIVATION, DRY MOUTH
Geriatric patients often have xerostomia, or dry mouth, which is frequently correlated with diminished salivary gland activity. The use of drugs, chronic illnesses including ESRD, and radiation therapy to the head and neck have all been implicated as causes of xerostomia in the elderly population [Hyposalivation also impairs immunological responses, lowers salivary pH and buffering capacity, and decreases oral defensive mechanisms. These signs and symptoms may raise the susceptibility to infectious oral disorders such as oral candidiasis, periodontitis, and cervical caries [Nitric oxide (NO) may be essential for optimal salivary gland function and secretion, according to previous research [In the current study, it was found that after 2 weeks and one month, the intervention group had significantly lower subjective dry mouth scores than control group (The objective dry mouth scores after 1 month, the intervention group had significantly lower scores than control group (Likewise, Lagerlof and Dawes [In the present study, NO levels that were measured at 1 month for both groups, the intervention had significantly higher value than the control group (Afsaneh et al. [The philosophy of utilizing thyme honey in xerostomia was founded on its’ salivary-stimulating properties [Regarding salivary pH in the intervention group, there was a significant difference between values measured at different intervals, with value measured after 1 month being significantly higher than other intervals (This elevation in pH level could be due to a buffering capacity of thyme honey, salivary stimulation from thyme taste, and/or antibacterial activity against acid-producing bacteria. Since less bicarbonate is generated at low flow rates and pH drops, the salivary pH is largely reliant on the salivary flow rate [The higher salivary pH in ESRD patients could be due to a higher ammonia concentration in saliva due to the hydrolysis of urea by the urease enzyme [Even though honey has an endogenous pH of (4.2), chewing it did not cause the pH to drop below the crucial level of 5.5 which is linked to enamel demineralization. Based on earlier findings showing that honey had antibacterial capabilities against medically significant bacteria, honey's antibacterial action against cariogenic bacteria may overcome its pH-reducing effects [According to the above-mentioned findings in the current study, thyme honey mouth rinse significantly reduced the symptoms and severity of xerostomia in the elderly patients with ESRD in the current study and this was in accordance with an earlier study by Charalambous et al. [