Xerostomia or "Dry Mouth"

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Xerostomia or "dry mouth" can result from the congenital non-development of one or more of the salivary glands. It is usually a manifestation of a clinical disorder. Most often, xerostomia is a decrease in salivary flow due to many possible conditions, including medications such as diuretics, antihistimine, antihypertensives, antidepressants, narcotic analgesics, or aging.

There are many degrees of xerostomia with symptoms ranging from dry mouth or burning sensation with normal mucosa to severe alterations in the mucous membranes. The mucosa can appear dry, atrophic, inflamed, pale and translucent. The tongue can appear dry, atrophic with loss of papillae, inflamed, fissured, cracked and in severe cases denuded. The dentition may show rampant caries with accompanying periodontal disease.

Treatment of the primary disease, using salivary substitutes, can improve the oral condition and relieve many of the accompanying symptoms.

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