Xerostomia Is More Than an Inconvenience

摘要

Xerostomia, or dry mouth, has many causes. It is asso- ciated with >500 drugs, including many OTC products. Drug-induced xerostomia accounts for 75% of reported cases. Although 10% of the population suffers from dry mouth, practitioners often brush aside this poorly understood condition as a minor inconvenience, failing to recognize its negative impact on both quality of life and general health. The average adult produces at least 500 mL of saliva daily. Salivary output varies temporally-0.1 mL/min during sleep, 0.3 mL/min when awake, and 4 to 5 mL/min when eating and chewing.3 Saliva has antibacterial and anti-fungal action, protects teeth from decay, facilitates swallowing and digestion, and lubricates the mouth when a person is speaking.