title: Recommended treatments for the symptoms and ailments of dry mouth.
abstract: Saliva is used in swallowing, oral cleansing, speech, digestion and taste but diminished salivary output is common in older people. Dry mouth (xerostomia) has many causes from local salivary disorders to diseases including diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and dehydration. It has also been suggested that 80 per cent of the most commonly prescribed medications cause xerostomia.
authors.affiliation: The University of Portsmouth.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sander