A dry mouth: Overview
A dry mouth
A dry mouth is a subjective feeling that may be caused by reduced saliva production (hyposalivation).1
Saliva plays an important part in maintaining oral health and well-being:2–4
- Lubricates the mouth and prevents epithelial dehydration
- Aids digestion and taste
- Assists in speech
- Maintains oral pH balance and tooth integrity
- Has antimicrobial properties
- Helps protect oral tissues
A dry mouth can negatively impact oral health;2,5 if left unmanaged, patients may have up to a 3x greater risk of cavities in the long term6
A dry mouth in the general population
-
Prevalence of patients experiencing a dry mouth
Up to 1 in 4 adult patients experience signs of a dry mouth.7
Biotene - helping your patients manage a dry mouth
Impact on patient quality of life
Find out about the impact that a dry mouth has on patients’ daily lives.
