JP3974004B2

JP3974004B2 - Saliva test tool

Info

Publication number: JP3974004B2
Application number: JP2002256571A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 英一吉居; 拓也佐藤
Original assignee: GC Corp
Current assignee: GC Corp
Priority date: 2002-09-02
Filing date: 2002-09-02
Publication date: 2007-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-02
Also published as: JP2004093439A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、齲蝕のリスク評価や唾液分泌量変化の確認などのために被験者の唾液量や粘性を簡易に且つ安価に検査することが可能な唾液量検査用具に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
口腔内疾患としての齲蝕は歯科医士や衛生士の指導による口腔衛生の向上とフッ素配合製品の使用により減少傾向にある。しかしながら、昨今ストレスによる唾液量減少や加齢に伴う疾患、例えば高血圧や心疾患などで服用する薬剤の中に唾液分泌量を減少させ、口腔乾燥症（ドライマウス）を誘発するものがある。これらの原因による唾液分泌量の減少により、齲蝕だけでなく、歯周病，口内炎，カンジダ症などの疾患、更には口腔内細菌が引き金となって誘発される全身疾患、例えば誤嚥性肺炎や心内膜症などが引き起こされることが知られている。
【０００３】
そこでこれら口腔疾患のリスクチェックの一つとして、唾液の分泌量低下具合を確認し、その後の治療の有効性や予防処置の効果などを判定するために唾液分泌量や粘性を簡便に且つ安価に検査できる方法が望まれてきた。
【０００４】
従来、安静時の唾液量は自然に分泌される唾液を一定時間（例えば１５分間）容器に出し、その容量をメスシリンダーなどで測定する方法が一般的である。また、刺激時の唾液量は１分間パラフィン片などを咀嚼し、一度唾液を全て廃棄した後、再度一定時間（５分間）咀嚼して、目盛の付いたシリンダーに吐き出した唾液量を測定する方法が行われている。
【０００５】
また、唾液量を簡便に測定する方法として、シルマー試験紙を応用してフィールド研究を行った報告がある（例えば、非特許文献１参照。）。この試験紙は涙液量の検査用として知られており、シルマー（Schirmer）試験紙（例えば、非特許文献２参照。）、「留胃液、涙道検査」やその改良版である目盛付きシルマー試験紙（例えば、非特許文献３参照。）に開示されている。
【０００６】
しかしながら、上記各種の試験紙や上記涙液・涙道の検査法に用いられるシルマー試験紙などは測定の際に被験部位に紙を接触させる際に接触面積が一定とならないことから、繰り返し測定による誤差が大きく、精度が低い方法と言える。一般に医療現場においては簡便な方法が求められるが、上記の方法では少ない容量及び重量となる唾液を正確に計ることは難しく、より精度の高い方法が求められていた。
【０００７】
そこで、唾液の量，粘性，口腔粘膜の乾燥度及び湿潤度を判定することができる簡易型の唾液検査用具として唾液の浸透速度が所定範囲内にある支持体を備えている唾液検査用具と、更に漏れ防止手段として水不透過性の透明材質で被覆することとが開示されている（例えば、特許文献１参照。）が、この簡易型の唾液検査用具は測定誤差が大きいという問題があった。
【０００８】
［非特許文献１］
厚生科学研究費補助金・長寿科学総合研究事業H13-長寿-018
［非特許文献２］
眼科Mook No．３（１９７８）大島利文著
［非特許文献３］
眼科３２（697-703）１９９０年山口達夫著
［特許文献１］
特開２０００−３２９７６３号公報
【０００９】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
そこで本発明は、被験者の口腔内における唾液量を簡易に且つ正確に検査することが可能な唾液検査用具を提供することを目的する。
【００１０】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明者等は上記課題を解決すべく鋭意検討した結果、唾液量を簡易に且つ正確に測定する方法として、短冊状の唾液吸収材の少なくとも長手方向の周囲を透明な水不透過性材料で被覆した唾液検査用具において、口腔内に挿入して唾液を吸収させる部位とその反対側の部位とにおける唾液吸収材の露出面積の割合を特定割合にすることにより正確に測定できることを究明して本発明を完成した。
【００１１】
即ち本発明は、一端を口腔内に挿入して唾液を短冊状の唾液吸収材に吸収させることによって唾液の量，粘性を検査する唾液検査用具であって、該唾液吸収材が少なくともその長手方向周囲を透明な水不透過性被膜で被覆されており、該水不透過性被膜の口腔内挿入部及び他端の一部が開口されて該唾液吸収材が露出した状態であり、該他端における該唾液吸収材の露出面積が口腔内挿入部の露出面積の０.２倍以上０.８倍以下であることを特徴とする唾液検査用具に関するものである。
【００１２】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明に係る唾液検査用具の実施例について図面により詳細に説明する。
図１は本発明に係る唾液検査用具の１実施例の構造を示す斜視説明図、図２〜図４はそれぞれ本発明に係る唾液検査用具の水不透過性被膜の口腔内挿入部の形状を示す部分斜視説明図、図５及び図６はそれぞれ本発明に係る唾液検査用具の水不透過性被膜の口腔内挿入部と反対側の他端の形状を示す部分斜視説明図である。
【００１３】
図面中、１は本発明に係る唾液検査用具であって、短冊状の唾液吸収材１ａが少なくともその長手方向周囲を透明な水不透過性被膜１ｂで被覆されており、この水不透過性被膜１ｂの口腔内挿入部１ｃ及び他端１ｇの一部が開口されて唾液吸収材１ａが露出した状態であり、前記他端１ｇにおける唾液吸収材１ａの露出面積が口腔内挿入部１ｃの露出面積の０.２倍以上０.８倍以下である。
【００１４】
唾液吸収材１ａは唾液を吸い上げるためのものであり、濾紙，紙タオル，吸い取り紙，加工紙などの各種の紙類、綿，石英ウール，絹，ウール，ガラスウール，レーヨン，麻，酢酸セルロース，ニトロセルロースなどの繊維類、シリカゲル，珪藻土，セルロースパウダーなどの多孔質性吸着材などを例示することができる。
【００１５】
この短冊状の唾液吸収材１ａの少なくとも長手方向周囲を被覆する透明な水不透過性被膜１ｂとしては、ポリプロピレン，ポリ塩化ビニル，ポリスチレン，ポリカーボネート，セルロースエステル，塩化ビニル，ＡＢＳ樹脂，ポリウレタン，シリコン，アクリル樹脂などを例示することができ、短冊状の唾液吸収材１ａの口腔内挿入部１ｃの一部又は全部は唾液を吸い上げることができるように透明な水不透過性の被膜１ｂによって被覆されていない開口した口腔内挿入部口１ｄを形成している必要がある。この口腔内挿入部口１ｄは図１に示すように口腔内挿入部１ｃの先端位置にあることが好ましいが、図２に示すように口腔内挿入部１ｃの側面も同時に使用するように設けてもよく、また図３又は図４に示すように口腔内挿入部１ｃの側面にだけ設けてもよい。
【００１６】
また本発明に係る唾液検査用具１は、短時間で正確な検査を行うために口腔内挿入部１ｃと反対側の他端１ｇに開口した他端開口部１ｅが設けられている。この他端開口部１ｅは他端１ｇの先端であればあるほどより検査精度が上がる傾向があり操作性が良いので好ましいが、操作性を害さない範囲で図１に示すように唾液吸収材１ａの他端１ｇ側端縁を切り取るような貫通穴であっても、図５に示すように他端１ｇの先端位置にあっても、図６に示すように他端１ｇの側面も同時に使用するように設けてもよい。
【００１７】
このような構造の本発明に係る唾液検査用具１において、正確に唾液を吸い上げるために他端１ｇの唾液吸収材の露出面積は口腔内挿入部口１ｄの唾液吸収材１ａの露出面積の０.２倍以上０.８倍以下であることが必要である。０.２倍未満であると端部１ｇを開口した効果が得られず検査精度が落ち、また０.８倍を超える場合には唾液の吸い上げ量が一定しないため不適である。中でも０.２〜０.６倍が好適である。
【００１８】
本発明に係る唾液検査用具１は、口腔内に挿入可能な大きさであれば特に限定されないが、例えば長さ３０〜１００ｍｍ，幅２〜１５ｍｍ，厚さ０.２〜５ｍｍの短冊状が好ましい。
【００１９】
本発明に係る唾液検査用具１を用いて実際に測定する際には、口腔内の被験部位、例えば被験者の舌背上に口腔内挿入部１ｃの口腔内挿入部口１ｄから露出している唾液吸収材１ａを接触させ、一定時間後に吸い上げた唾液量を目測で測定する。この際、唾液検査用具１に目盛り１ｆが付いているとより正確に測定することができるので好ましい。また、吸い上げた唾液量を測定する際の基準位置は通常唾液検査用具１の口腔内挿入部１ｃ先端であるが、形態によって先端が定まらない場合は先端から他端１ｇ側に数ｍｍ離れた位置に別途基準位置を設定してもよい。
【００２０】
【実施例】
次に実施例により本発明の例を紹介するが、本発明は以下の実施例に限定されるものではない。
【００２１】
＜実施例１＞
検査媒体として、幅5mm×長さ50mm×厚さ0.25mmの大きさの短冊状の濾紙（商品名：ワットマンNo.41，ワットマンジャパン社製）をポリプロピレンフィルムで被覆し、図２に示す形状に口腔内挿入部口を作製し唾液吸収材の露出面積を約１mm²に規定した。また、図５に示す形状に他端の唾液吸収材の露出面積を約0.5mm²に規定した唾液検査用具を作製した（面積比：０.５）。この唾液検査用具の口腔内挿入部口を被験者の舌背先端から１cmの部分に15秒及び30秒間接触させたときの唾液の吸い込み量を測定し、他端に開口が無い他はこの実施例と同様の唾液検査用具についても同じ被験者で試験して比較した。結果を表１に示す。
【００２２】
【表１】

【００２３】
＜実施例２＞
検査媒体として、幅3mm×長さ60mm×厚さ0.25mmの大きさの短冊状の濾紙（商品名：ワットマンNo.41，ワットマンジャパン社製）をエチレン酢酸ビニル樹脂フィルムで被覆し、図３に示す形状に口腔内挿入部口を作製し唾液吸収材の露出面積を約3.5mm²に規定した。また、図５に示す形状に他端の唾液吸収材の露出面積を約１mm²に規定した唾液検査用具を作製した（面積比：約０.２９）。この唾液検査用具の口腔内挿入部口を被験者の舌背先端から１cmの部分に15秒及び30秒間接触させたときの唾液の吸い込み量を測定し、他端に開口が無い他はこの実施例と同様の唾液検査用具についても同じ被験者で試験して比較した。結果を表２に示す。
【００２４】
【表２】

【００２５】
上記の結果から、本発明に係る唾液検査用具は15秒及び30秒の接触においても精度が高いことが確認できた。また、15秒の接触であっても既に安定した結果が得られていることから短時間の接触であっても高い精度で唾液の検査を行うことが可能であることも確認された。
【００２６】
【発明の効果】
以上に詳述した如く、本発明に係る唾液検査用具は、被験者の口腔内における唾液量を簡易に且つ正確に検査することが可能なため、齲蝕のリスク評価や唾液分泌量変化の確認などを簡易に且つ安価に検査することが可能であり、歯科医療に貢献する価値が非常に大きなものである。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係る唾液検査用具の１実施例の構造を示す斜視説明図である。
【図２】本発明に係る唾液検査用具の水不透過性被膜の口腔内挿入部の形状の１実施例を示す部分斜視説明図である。
【図３】本発明に係る唾液検査用具の水不透過性被膜の口腔内挿入部の形状の他の実施例を示す部分斜視説明図である。
【図４】本発明に係る唾液検査用具の水不透過性被膜の口腔内挿入部の形状の更に他の実施例を示す部分斜視説明図である。
【図５】本発明に係る唾液検査用具の水不透過性被膜の口腔内挿入部と反対側の他端の形状の１実施例を示す部分斜視説明図である。
【図６】本発明に係る唾液検査用具の水不透過性被膜の口腔内挿入部と反対側の他端の形状の他の実施例を示す部分斜視説明図である。
【符号の説明】
１本発明に係る唾液検査用具
１ａ短冊状の唾液吸収材
１ｂ透明な水不透過性被膜
１ｃ口腔内挿入部
１ｄ口腔内挿入部口
１ｅ他端開口部
１ｆ目盛り
１ｇ他端[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a saliva amount inspection device that can easily and inexpensively inspect a subject's saliva amount and viscosity for caries risk evaluation and confirmation of changes in saliva secretion amount.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Caries as an intraoral disease are decreasing due to the improvement of oral hygiene under the guidance of dentists and hygienists and the use of fluorine-containing products. However, some of the drugs taken for saliva reduction due to stress and diseases associated with aging, such as hypertension and heart disease, reduce saliva secretion and induce xerostomia (dry mice). Due to the decrease in salivary secretion due to these causes, not only caries, but also diseases such as periodontal disease, stomatitis, candidiasis, and systemic diseases triggered by oral bacteria such as aspiration pneumonia, It is known that endocarditis is caused.
[0003]
Therefore, as one of the risk checks for these oral diseases, the salivary secretion amount and viscosity can be easily and inexpensively confirmed in order to confirm the degree of salivary secretion decrease and determine the effectiveness of subsequent treatment and the effect of preventive measures. A method that can be inspected has been desired.
[0004]
Conventionally, the saliva amount at rest is generally a method in which saliva naturally secreted is put in a container for a certain time (for example, 15 minutes) and the volume is measured with a graduated cylinder or the like. In addition, the amount of saliva at the time of stimulation is a method of chewing a piece of paraffin for 1 minute, once discarding all the saliva, chewing again for a certain time (5 minutes), and measuring the amount of saliva discharged to a cylinder with a scale Has been done.
[0005]
In addition, as a method for easily measuring the amount of saliva, there has been a report of field research using Schirmer test paper (see Non-Patent Document 1, for example). This test paper is known for examination of lacrimal fluid volume. Schirmer test paper (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 2), “Stomach fluid, lacrimal tract examination” and its improved version of graduated Schirmer It is disclosed in a test paper (for example, see Non-Patent Document 3).
[0006]
However, since the contact areas of the various test papers and the Schirmer test papers used for the lacrimal fluid and lacrimal passage test methods are not constant when the paper is brought into contact with the test site at the time of measurement, It can be said that the method has a large error and low accuracy. In general, a simple method is required in the medical field, but it is difficult to accurately measure saliva with a small volume and weight by the above method, and a method with higher accuracy is required.
[0007]
Therefore, as a simple saliva test tool capable of determining the amount of saliva, viscosity, dryness and wetness of the oral mucosa, a saliva test tool provided with a support whose saliva penetration rate is within a predetermined range; Furthermore, it has been disclosed that a water-impermeable transparent material is coated as a leakage preventing means (see, for example, Patent Document 1), but this simple saliva testing device has a problem that measurement errors are large. .
[0008]
[Non-Patent Document 1]
Health and Welfare Research Grants, Longevity Science Research Project H13-Longevity-018
[Non-Patent Document 2]
Ophthalmology Mook No. 3 (1978) Toshifumi Oshima [Non-Patent Document 3]
Ophthalmology 32 (697-703) 1990, Tatsuo Yamaguchi [Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-329763
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Then, an object of this invention is to provide the saliva test | inspection tool which can test | inspect the amount of saliva in a test subject's oral cavity simply and correctly.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a result of intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors, as a method for measuring the amount of saliva easily and accurately, at least the periphery of the strip-shaped saliva absorbent material with a transparent water-impermeable material. In the coated saliva testing device, we have determined that the ratio of the exposed area of the saliva absorbent material in the part that is inserted into the oral cavity and absorbs saliva and the part on the opposite side can be accurately measured, and this book Completed the invention.
[0011]
That is, the present invention is a saliva test tool for examining the amount and viscosity of saliva by inserting one end into the oral cavity and absorbing the saliva into a strip-shaped saliva absorber, wherein the saliva absorbent is at least in the longitudinal direction thereof. The periphery is covered with a transparent water-impermeable film, and the saliva absorbent is exposed by opening a portion of the water-impermeable film in the oral cavity and a part of the other end, and the other end. The saliva-absorbing material has an exposed area of 0.2 to 0.8 times the exposed area of the intraoral insertion portion.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a saliva test tool according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view showing the structure of one embodiment of a saliva test tool according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 4 respectively show the shape of an intraoral insertion portion of a water-impermeable film of the saliva test tool according to the present invention. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are partial perspective explanatory views showing the shape of the other end opposite to the intraoral insertion portion of the water-impermeable coating of the saliva test device according to the present invention.
[0013]
In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a saliva test tool according to the present invention, in which a strip-shaped saliva absorbent material 1a is coated at least in the longitudinal direction with a transparent water-impermeable film 1b, and this water-impermeable film 1b is a state where a part of the intraoral insertion part 1c and the other end 1g are opened to expose the saliva absorbent 1a, and the exposed area of the saliva absorbent 1a at the other end 1g is the exposed area of the intraoral insertion part 1c. 0.2 times or more and 0.8 times or less.
[0014]
The saliva absorbing material 1a is for sucking saliva, and various papers such as filter paper, paper towel, blotting paper, processed paper, cotton, quartz wool, silk, wool, glass wool, rayon, hemp, cellulose acetate, Examples thereof include fibers such as nitrocellulose, porous adsorbents such as silica gel, diatomaceous earth, and cellulose powder.
[0015]
As the transparent water-impermeable coating 1b covering at least the circumference of the strip-shaped saliva absorbent 1a, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, cellulose ester, vinyl chloride, ABS resin, polyurethane, silicon, An acrylic resin etc. can be illustrated and a part or all of the intraoral insertion part 1c of the strip-shaped saliva absorbing material 1a is covered with a transparent water-impermeable coating 1b so that saliva can be sucked up. It is necessary to form a mouth opening portion 1d having no opening. The intraoral insertion portion port 1d is preferably located at the tip of the intraoral insertion portion 1c as shown in FIG. 1, but the side surface of the intraoral insertion portion 1c is provided so as to be used at the same time as shown in FIG. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, it may be provided only on the side surface of the intraoral insertion portion 1c.
[0016]
Moreover, the saliva test | inspection tool 1 which concerns on this invention is provided with the other end opening part 1e opened to the other end 1g on the opposite side to the intraoral insertion part 1c, in order to perform an exact test | inspection in a short time. The other end opening 1e is preferably the tip of the other end 1g because the inspection accuracy tends to be higher and the operability is better. However, as shown in FIG. Even if it is a through-hole that cuts off the edge on the other end 1g side, or at the tip position of the other end 1g as shown in FIG. 5, the side surface of the other end 1g is used simultaneously as shown in FIG. It may be provided as follows.
[0017]
In the saliva testing tool 1 according to the present invention having such a structure, the exposed area of the saliva absorbent material at the other end 1g is 0. 0 of the exposed area of the saliva absorbent material 1a at the intraoral insertion port 1d in order to suck up saliva accurately. It is necessary to be not less than 2 times and not more than 0.8 times. If it is less than 0.2 times, the effect of opening the end 1g cannot be obtained, and the inspection accuracy is lowered. If it exceeds 0.8 times, the amount of saliva sucked up is not constant, which is inappropriate. Among these, 0.2 to 0.6 times is preferable.
[0018]
The saliva test tool 1 according to the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a size that can be inserted into the oral cavity, but for example, a strip shape having a length of 30 to 100 mm, a width of 2 to 15 mm, and a thickness of 0.2 to 5 mm is preferable. .
[0019]
When actually measuring using the saliva test | inspection tool 1 which concerns on this invention, the saliva exposed from the intraoral insertion part 1d of the intraoral insertion part 1c on the test site | part in the oral cavity, for example, a test subject's tongue back The absorbent 1a is brought into contact, and the amount of saliva sucked up after a certain time is measured by visual measurement. At this time, it is preferable that the saliva testing tool 1 has a scale 1f because it can measure more accurately. In addition, the reference position for measuring the amount of saliva sucked up is usually the tip of the intraoral insertion portion 1c of the saliva test tool 1, but if the tip cannot be determined depending on the form, a position several mm away from the tip to the other end 1g side. A reference position may be set separately.
[0020]
【Example】
Next, examples of the present invention will be introduced by way of examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
[0021]
<Example 1>
As an inspection medium, a strip-shaped filter paper (product name: Whatman No. 41, manufactured by Whatman Japan) with a width of 5 mm x length of 50 mm x thickness of 0.25 mm is covered with a polypropylene film to form the shape shown in FIG. An intraoral insertion port was prepared, and the exposed area of the saliva absorbent was defined to be about 1 mm ² . In addition, a saliva test tool having the shape shown in FIG. 5 and an exposed area of the saliva absorbing material at the other end of about 0.5 mm ² was produced (area ratio: 0.5). This example measures the amount of saliva sucked when the mouth part of the mouth of the saliva test tool is brought into contact with a 1 cm portion of the subject's back of the tongue for 15 seconds and 30 seconds, and there is no opening at the other end. The same saliva testing device was tested in the same subject and compared. The results are shown in Table 1.
[0022]
[Table 1]

[0023]
<Example 2>
As an inspection medium, a strip-shaped filter paper (product name: Whatman No. 41, manufactured by Whatman Japan) with a width of 3 mm x length of 60 mm x thickness of 0.25 mm is covered with an ethylene vinyl acetate resin film. An intraoral insertion part mouth was produced in the shape shown, and the exposed area of the saliva absorbing material was regulated to about 3.5 mm ² . In addition, a saliva testing tool having the shape shown in FIG. 5 and an exposed area of the saliva absorbing material at the other end of about 1 mm ² was produced (area ratio: about 0.29). This example measures the amount of saliva sucked when the mouth part of the mouth of the saliva test tool is brought into contact with a 1 cm portion of the subject's back of the tongue for 15 seconds and 30 seconds, and there is no opening at the other end. The same saliva testing device was tested in the same subject and compared. The results are shown in Table 2.
[0024]
[Table 2]

[0025]
From the above results, it can be confirmed that the saliva test device according to the present invention has high accuracy even in contact for 15 seconds and 30 seconds. It was also confirmed that saliva can be tested with high accuracy even with a short contact because a stable result has already been obtained even with a contact of 15 seconds.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, the saliva test tool according to the present invention can easily and accurately test the amount of saliva in the oral cavity of a subject, so that it is possible to evaluate caries risk and confirm changes in saliva secretion. It can be easily and inexpensively inspected, and has a great value in contributing to dental care.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view showing the structure of one embodiment of a saliva testing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective explanatory view showing one embodiment of the shape of the intraoral insertion portion of the water-impermeable coating of the saliva test device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective explanatory view showing another embodiment of the shape of the intraoral insertion portion of the water-impermeable film of the saliva test device according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a partial perspective explanatory view showing still another embodiment of the shape of the intraoral insertion portion of the water-impermeable film of the saliva testing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a partial perspective explanatory view showing one embodiment of the shape of the other end opposite to the intraoral insertion portion of the water-impermeable coating of the saliva test device according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a partial perspective explanatory view showing another embodiment of the shape of the other end opposite to the intraoral insertion portion of the water-impermeable coating of the saliva test device according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Saliva test | inspection tool 1a which concerns on this invention Strip-shaped saliva absorption material 1b Transparent water-impermeable film 1c Intraoral insertion part 1d Intraoral insertion part port 1e Other end opening part 1f Scale 1g The other end

Claims

A saliva testing tool for examining the amount and viscosity of saliva by inserting one end into the oral cavity and causing the strip-shaped saliva absorbent material (1a) to absorb saliva, wherein the saliva absorbent material (1a) is at least its longitudinal length The periphery of the direction is covered with a transparent water-impermeable coating (1b), and a part of the oral cavity insertion portion (1c) and the other end (1g) of the water-impermeable coating (1b) are opened to The saliva absorbing material (1a) is exposed, and the exposed area of the saliva absorbing material (1a) at the other end (1g) is not less than 0.2 times the exposed area of the oral cavity insertion portion (1c). Saliva test tool (1) characterized by being less than double.