xerostomia

Xerostomia, commonly known as dry mouth, is a condition where the inside of the mouth becomes excessively dry. This dryness occurs when saliva production is significantly diminished.12

Consequences of xerostomia include:
* Difficulty with speech, making it thick and indistinct.
* Food debris accumulating in the mouth, leading to bad breath (halitosis).
* Impeded swallowing due to a lack of lubrication for forming a food bolus.2

Xerostomia can be caused by anxiety, depression, certain medications with anticholinergic effects, and autoimmune disorders like Sjögren syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus, which can cause permanent loss of saliva. It can also result from infiltration of salivary glands by abnormal white blood cells in leukemias and lymphomas.2

While symptomatic relief can be found with artificial saliva or by stimulating salivary glands, persistent dryness may indicate underlying conditions.2