Methods:Twenty samples were taken consecutively out of male out-patients of Coronary Disease Department of Soetomo Hospital Surabaya, receiving Calcium Channel Blocker agent for at least 6 months, divided into two groups; Group A received a treatment of sugar-free citrus chewing gum, while Group B received sugar-free tasteless and odorless chewing gum as a control group. Salivary flow was measured before and after gum chewing, and processed statistically by two-tailed paired-t test with anova.
Results: Both groups showed an increase of salivary flow after gum chewing, and Group A showed a significant difference in salivary flow when compared with Group B. This study suggested that salivary glands in hypertensive patients receiving Calcium Channel Blocker treatment could function normally and response to sufficient stimulant.
Conclusions: Chewing sugar-free citrus gum chewing may help to prevent oral dryness in hypertensive patients receiving Calcium Chanel Blocker agent.