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What is Xerostomia? Xerostomia or “dry mouth” is a result of inadequate saliva in either quantity of flow or quality of saliva. It is also known as salivary gland hypofunction. Xerostomia is estimated to affect one of every 10 dental patients. Xerostomia is not a disease, it is a symptom. Saliva functions in many ways that we may not even be aware of. It lubricates oral tissues, cleanses the mouth, begins the digestive process with enzymes, maintains a neutral oral pH, protects oral tissue against microorganism invasion, helps remineralize the teeth, prevents decay, facilitates swallowing, and acts as a solvent to enhance taste stimuli. Where are my Saliva Glands? There are three main saliva glands located in the face. 1. The Parotid gland is located bilaterally starting in front and below the ear. It travels along the side of the face and along the lower jaw. It empties saliva through Stensons duct on the inside of your cheek. You can feel this ridge and bump with your tongue. 2. The Submandibular gland is located bilaterally underneath the border of the mandible. Its saliva exits from Wharton’s ducts located under the base of the tongue. 3. The Sublingual glands are located under the floor of the mouth, bilaterally adjacent to the inside border of the mandible. This saliva drains mostly through multiple, small ducts in the floor of the mouth. There are also thousands of individual salivary glands that are scattered throughout the oral cavity including lips, cheeks, soft and hard palate,and the pharynx. What Do They Do? The Salivary Glands produce two types of saliva. Serous saliva is a watery saliva. Mucous saliva is a thicker type of saliva. Both types are needed for saliva to perform optimally. The Parotid Gland produces serous saliva. The Submandibular Gland produces a mixture of both serous and mucous saliva. The Sublingual Gland produces a saliva which is mostly mucous. What are the Signs and Symptoms? A patient with xerostomia may be asymptomatic and not aware that their oral health has been affected. In the absence of complaints of a dry mouth, the history or presence of several conditions can be diagnostic. Sudden increase in dental caries, oral yeast infections (Candidiasis), inflamed soft tissue, painful oral tissue, chapped or cracked lips and tongue, swollen salivary glands, bad breath or uncomfortable dentures.
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