Dry mouth associated with Sjögren’s syndrome increases the risk of tooth decay and fungal infections. When salivary secretion in the mouth is reduced, even the best available mechanical oral hygiene methods may not be enough to prevent oral diseases effectively. Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) administered regularly at home improves oral hygiene results, reducing the risk of developing oral diseases.
Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that affects the whole body. It affects approximately 0.6 per cent of adults in the UK, with a mean age of 50 years. 90 per cent of all patients with the condition are women.
Sjögren’s syndrome is the UK’s second most common autoimmune rheumatic disease, yet the condition remains underrecognized and often undertreated, according to the British Sjögren’s Syndrome Association (BSSA). In this condition, antibodies destroy salivary glands, reducing saliva secretion and increasing the risk of developing oral diseases as well4. Treatment of the disease is primarily supportive, focusing on symptom relief and prevention.
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