What Are the Major Causes of Dry Mouth in Elderly Adults

This article will review the etiology and mechanisms of onset of dry mouth in elderly adults. Sjogren syndrome (SS), a disease triggered by an autoimmune response against the exocrine glands, has long been recognized as a typical disease associated with such symptoms. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is also one of the causative diseases of dry mouth and results in oral mucosal inflammation. Previously, hyperglycemia induces dehydration and results dry mouth. Recently, hyperglycemia-induced insulin resistance impairs saliva secretion mechanisms and promotes dry mouth. An increasing number of dry-mouth patients are presenting with complaints of generalized dryness. However, it can be presumed that a considerable number of patients have chronic oral inflammation due to dry mouth caused by something other than SS or DM.