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Dry Mouth.
Saliva is a natural production that helps swallowing, talking, taste, and protects the soft tissues.
Saliva is produced from the Salivary Glands of which there are six major glands and thousands of tiny glands in your lips, cheeks and palate.
Where saliva is reduced there is a risk of dental decay (caries), bad breath, altered taste, and sore mouths.
Saliva may be reduced by radiotherapy or chemotherapy, various drugs particularly the anti hypertensives, in diabetes, in anxiety, stress and depression, or in salivary gland disease. Ageing also reduces the production of saliva.
We will often diagnose the problem on appearance, however in some cases further investigation by your GP or by referral to the Oral Medicine Clinic is required. This may include:
• Blood tests
• Eye tests
• Salivary flow rate tests
• Biopsy of your salivary glands
• X-rays
• Sialography
• Scintiscanning
• Ultrasound