title: Xerostomia in geriatric patients: a burgeoning global concern.
abstract: Saliva plays a key role in maintaining oral homeostasis, function, and health. The prevalence of xerostomia and its consequences are rising due to the increasing aging population, the effects of some systemic diseases, medical management, and commonly-prescribed medications that reduce saliva production. When salivary function is diminished, patients are at a greater risk of developing caries, discomfort in wearing dentures, and opportunistic diseases, such as candidiasis. The psychosocial aspects of xerostomia can range from a mild effect on self-rated oral health to frustration, embarrassment, unhappiness, or substantial disruptions in quality of life. This article reviews the clinical features, diagnosis, and prevalence of dry mouth, as well as its treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sukumaran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anil
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sajith
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vellappally
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashem
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Reghunathan S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Preethanath
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Shankargouda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.|School of Dentistry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Lakshman P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Samaranayake
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003731:Dental Caries; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012463:Saliva; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D012464:Saliva, Artificial
keywords: aging; artificial saliva; dry mouth; hyposalivation; xerostomia