This document discusses the diagnosis and treatment of dry mouth. It begins with an introduction to dry mouth and its effects. It then outlines how dry mouth is diagnosed through a medical history, examination of salivary glands, measuring saliva flow rates, scans, and biopsies. Treatment options are also summarized, including prescription drugs to increase saliva secretion, dental care to prevent decay, and treating oral yeast infections. Finally, coping strategies are presented such as staying hydrated, avoiding acids, chewing gum, and applying lip balm.

1. Diagnosis and
treatment of dry mouth
1. Ahmed Nouh Alhwaj 251070022
2. Mansour Alfalah 251070025
3. Abdullaziz Aldossary 251070026
4. Abdullah Alsenaidi 251070031
5. Abdulrahman Alsulaiman 251070032
6. Ra’ad Abualresh 207019340
Supervision: Prof. Dr. Essam Soussa

2. Outline
 Introduction
 Diagnosing Dry Mouth
 Treating Dry Mouth
 Coping with Dry Mouth

3. Introduction
 Xerostomia is not a disease but can be a
symptom of certain disease. If can produce
serious negative effects on the patients quality of
life, affecting dietary habits nutritional status
speech taste tolerance to dental prosthesis and
increases susceptibility to dental caries. The
increase in dental caries can be devastating in
many patients and therefore special care must be
made to control this condition.

4. Diagnosing Dry Mouth
 History — Specifics of the complaint of dry
mouth are obtained: duration, frequency, and
severity. The presence of dryness at other sites
(eyes, nose, throat, skin, vagina) is documented.
A complete medical and prescription drug
history is taken.

5.  Examination — Major salivary glands are
palpated for the presence of tenderness,
firmness, or enlargement. The amount and
quality of saliva coming from the ducts inside
the mouth are assessed, and the absence of
saliva or presence of dry or reddish oral mucosa
is noted. Active dental decay is evaluated.

6.  Salivary flow rate — The amount of saliva
produced during a specified amount of time may
be measured. The test is non-invasive and
painless.
 Scintigraphy — Performed in the hospital, this
test measures the rate at which a small amount
of injected radioactive material is taken up from
the blood by the salivary glands and secreted
into the mouth. It is another method to measure
salivary flow rate.

7.  Biopsy of minor salivary glands — A small,
shallow incision is made inside the lower lip to
remove at least four of these glands. A
pathologist then examines them for changes
characteristic of the salivary component of
Sjögren’s syndrome.

8. Treating Dry Mouth
 Reduce oral symptoms and increase salivary
secretion:
Two prescription drugs pilocarpine and
cevimeline reduce symptoms of dry mouth and
increase salivary secretion for a few hours.

9.  Treat and prevent dental decay:
1. Flossing and brushing teeth with a fluoride-
containing toothpaste.
2. Decrease risk of tooth decay by decreasing the
amount and frequency of fermentable
carbohydrate intake, especially sticky foods
such as cookies, bread, potato chips and candy.

10.  Treat oral candidiasis (thrush) when
necessary:
A red appearance of the oral mucosa and/or a
burning sensation in the mouth may indicate to
have an oral infection by the yeast Candida.

11. Coping with Dry Mouth
 Keeping mouth moist by sipping small amounts of
water during the day.
 Avoiding frequent intake of acidic beverages.
 Drinking water while eating to aid chewing and
swallowing.
 Increasing salivary secretion by chewing sugarfree
gum.
 Soothing Dry cracked lips by an oil-based balm or
lipstick placed over previously moistened lips. The
use of vitamin E-containing ointments may be
helpful.

12. Thank You