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    oral-health

    Dry Mouth / Xerostomia (adjunctive care)

    Also known as: dry mouth, xerostomia, mouth dryness

    Dry mouth is reduced saliva — common after head-and-neck radiotherapy, with many medicines (especially antidepressants and blood-pressure tablets) and with Sjögren's syndrome. Causes get treated; symptom care includes sipping fluids, saliva substitutes and dental care. Chinese medicine reads it as yin and fluids failing to reach the mouth, or spleen deficiency failing to transport fluids.

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    Lifestyle & Diet

    • •Sip water regularly; chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva.
    • •Use saliva substitutes and fluoride toothpaste; see the dentist more often.
    • •Review the medicine list with your GP — many cause dry mouth.
    • •Avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes and smoking.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    See sources
    • •CV23 must be needled shallowly and only by experienced practitioners.[]

    When to reassess or seek care again

    See sources

    Review every 8 weeks: mouth comfort, dental status, medication changes. Coordinate with the treating specialist.

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    Sources & Further Reading

    Clinical guidance, red flags and safety notes on this page draw on the following current sources alongside the classical references above.

    1. Dry mouth — Healthdirect
      Healthdirect Australia · 2024
    2. Dry mouth — MedlinePlus
      National Library of Medicine · 2024
    3. Dry mouth — NHS
      NHS · 2024

    Educational reference for licensed practitioners. Not a substitute for individual clinical assessment. Refer to conventional care for any red-flag or undiagnosed presentation.