Saliva and thyroid disease; a review of controversies

Introduction: Saliva as a simple non-invasive method of gaining body fluids has been used to detect the thyroid hormones. A single method for determining these hormones has not been clearly stated in the literature. Furthermore, thyroid diseases would affect the salivary glands and may compromise salivary flow. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed and Medline. Conclusion: Saliva can successfully be used as a non-invasive method for determining thyroid hormones and for detecting and monitoring thyroid dysfunctions. Thyroid dysfunctions also have a great impact on salivary gland functions and saliva.