Dry Mouth: Causes and mechanisms
![Medications Medications](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_CA/dry-mouth/GEP347_Medications_Image.jpg?auto=format)
What causes dry mouth?
The causes of dry mouth
- Taking medication is the number one cause1 of dry mouth as it is a side effect of many common medicines2,3
- Taking multiple medications may increase the risk of dry mouth by 40%4
- Other causes include conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome, diabetes and salivary gland damage5,6
Salivary gland hypofunction
Dry mouth is associated with changes in saliva composition and may have no immediately identifiable cause.3,5 Salivary gland hypofunction – the objective measurement of reduced salivary flow – can be associated with:3,5,7,8
- Medical treatments and polypharmacy
- Lifestyle choices
- Health conditions
- Damage to the salivary glands
![Salivary gland diagram Salivary gland diagram](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_CA/dry-mouth/GEP349_Salivary_Gland_Diagram_Image.jpg?auto=format)
Salivary gland physiology
Three main salivary glands produce 90% of saliva.5 These glands produce the two major types of secretion that form saliva:5
- Serous fluid (mainly from the parotid and submandibular glands)
- Mucous (mainly from the submandibular and sublingual glands)
Offer your dry mouth patients a solution that suits their different needs, both day and night
![Family icon Family icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_CA/icons/GSK_GEP_QOL_Icon.png?auto=format)
Impact on patient quality of life
Find out about the impact that dry mouth has on patients’ daily lives
![Tooth Magnified icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_CA/icons/GSK_GEP_Diagnosis_Icon.png?auto=format)
![Dental Healthcare Professional icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_CA/icons/GSK_GEP_Management_Icon.png?auto=format)
![Dry mouth icon Dry mouth icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_CA/icons/GEP345_Dry%20Mouth_Icon.png?auto=format)
![Biotene logo Biotene logo](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_CA/sensitivity/GEP344_Biotene_Logo.jpg?auto=format)
![Patient resources icon Patient resources icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_CA/icons/GSK_GEP_Patient_Resources_Icon.png?auto=format)