The purpose of this study was to investigate if salivary flow rate is important to maintain adequate oral functions.

Hyposalivation may damage oral functions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients under hyposalivation present damaged mastication and speech. Forty subjects composed 2 groups: Control (C) and hyposalivation (H). Masticatory performance (MP) was carried out using artificial material and a 10-sieve method. Mandibular movements during speech were obtained using a 3D jaw-tracking device. Neither mastication nor speech have been impaired by low salivary flow rate.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Fully dentate
• Good general and oral health

Exclusion Criteria:

• Signs or symptoms of temporomandibular disorders
• Parafunctions
• Malocclusion
• History of communication deficits or prior speech-language treatment

Forty subjects were selected (20 male and 20 female) among people seeking for dental treatment, students and staff of Piracicaba Dental School.Saliva collection was performed for all subjects, and indivuduals with normal salivary flow rate composed the control group. Hyposalivation group group, otherwise, was composed by subjects taking 0.5-0.7 mg/kg/day for at least one month prescribed by a dermatologist.