| [ Summary ] |
Dry mouth syndrome (xerostomia) is defined as a subjective complaint of oral dryness, and is caused by hyposalivation and/or hyper-evaporation of saliva. Hyposalivation occurs due to various causes such as Sjögren's syndrome, radiation therapy to the head and neck, the use of medications, diabetes mellitus and dialytic treatment. Hyper-evaporation is primarily caused by mouth opening or mouth breathing, which often occurs during the night without an apparent decrease in the salivary flow.
Hyper-evaporation may occur in dry mouth patients. Recent advances in dry mouth treatment are discussed. |