Learning Objectives: 

• Check their own mouth for signs of xerostomia.
• Recognize the common side effects Xerostomia can cause in the oral cavity.
• Explain the clinical signs of salivary gland hypo-function
• List the causes of Xerostomia and understand the components and functions of healthy saliva.
• Discuss successful management options for educating patients and improving their quality of life for issues with dryness.

 Although Xerostomia is not a disease, it is often not discussed. Saliva isn’t just water and xerostomia is a serious condition. Hypo-salivation is annoying, uncomfortable and usually caused by a disease or underlying condition. It affects your patient’s quality of life while speaking, eating or even trying to sleep. Dry mouth can damage the hard and soft tissues of the mouth while presenting a clinical challenge in the operatory! At least 25% of the population suffers from this terrible affliction and is more common in the older adult population but is not necessarily an inevitable part of aging.  This course will turn you into a dry mouth superhero! You will be able to teach patients reasons why they suffer from dry mouth, intra-oral problems associated with it, and be given management options available to make your patients more comfortable managing their symptoms.