Dry Mouth Symptoms & Diagnosis Advice
Diagnosing dry mouth
Useful tools to help you recognise reduced saliva flow and dry mouth in patients
The symptoms of dry mouth: who is at risk?
-
Women
Dry mouth is more prevalent in women than in men1
-
The elderly
Dry mouth is more prevalent in the elderly population due to increased use of medication and susceptibility to disease*2,3
*This is more likely due to increased use of medication and susceptibility to disease rather than a feature of ageing2,3
-
Denture wearers
The group most at risk of impaired dental health from dry mouth are patients with dentures taking concomitant medications4
History taking
If you suspect a patient is suffering from dry mouth symptoms, the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs has highlighted four questions for which a positive answer is associated with salivary hypofunction:5,7
- Does the amount of saliva in your mouth seem too little?
- Does your mouth feel dry when eating a meal?
- Do you sip liquids to aid in swallowing dry food?
- Do you have difficulty swallowing?
Dry mouth symptoms: examination
-
Intraoral mirror sticking to the buccal mucosa or tongue6
-
Frothy saliva6
-
The group most at risk of impaired dental health from dry mouth are patients with dentures taking concomitant medications4
-
Loss of tongue papillae6
-
Altered/smooth gingival architecture6
-
Glassy appearance to mucosa, especially the palate6
-
Tongue is lobulated/deeply fissured6
-
Cervical caries (>2 teeth) and/or mucosal debris on palate (except under dentures)6
Diagnostic tests for dry mouth symptoms
The ADA Council on Scientific Affairs outlines three diagnostic tests that you can use to support a dry mouth diagnosis7
| Diagnostic tests | |
| Salivary flow measurement | Periodic evaluation of salivary flow rate that provides a tool for monitoring dry mouth symptoms |
| Blood tests | Biomarker testing for when dry mouth is suspected to be related to systemic |
| Biopsy | Minor salivary gland biopsy can be used to identify any underlying pathological changes associated with dysfunction |
ADA Council on Scientific Affairs xerostomia guidelines
For more oral care advice, visit the educational resources on our Learning Lab.
Offer your patients a solution for their dry mouth symptoms that suits their different needs, both day and night
Impact on patient quality of life
Find out about the impact that dry mouth has on patients’ daily lives.
