Dry mouth is a disease caused by lacking of saliva in the mouth. Incidence is higher in the elderly. Because of reduced saliva secretion, patients feel dryness, sensation of foreign body or burning sensation in the mouth. Food, especially dry food, is difficult to swallow. Less saliva secretion also means less washing of teeth and oral mucosa, so the self-cleaning function of the mouth is also affected. Therefore, dry mouth patients have a higher prevalence of tooth decay. The sense of taste of the majority of patients is also affected. Since appetite cannot be effectively stimulated, it further affects function of the entire digestive system. Treatment of dry mouth aims at relieving symptoms and preventing complications.
How is Dry mouth treated in practice?