Oral Dryness, Dietary Intake, and Alterations in Taste

Xerostomia and decreased salivary secretion may give rise to a number of oral complications. These include dry, atrophic and tender oral mucosa; impaired mastication, food bolus formation, and swallowing; altered sensation of taste; as well as increased risk of developing dental caries and erosion that could be followed by tooth loss. These are all complications that theoretically may have a negative impact on dietary intake. Although the literature does not present a direct association between decreased salivary secretion and malnutrition, it is concluded that salivary gland dysfunction may add to the conditions that make it difficult to maintain an adequate dietary intake in some individuals. Also, the opposite can occur. Thus, persons with an inadequate dietary intake may present with xerostomia and decreased salivary secretion. Therefore, clinical recommendations for counseling of dry mouth patients should draw attention to the impact of an unbalanced diet on salivary secretion and emphasize that oral dryness may have a negative impact on food consumption.