Generally, saliva is one of those things that’s not appreciated until it is gone. Dry mouth, otherwise known as xerostomia, affects at least one third of adults around the country. Normal human salivary glands produce about 4-6 cups of saliva every day. But when this amount drops significantly dry mouth symptoms can arise swiftly. Symptoms of xerostomia can fluctuate from minor dryness to pain and burning in the mouth. Some common consequences of the disease can be halitosis, gum disease, and added tooth decay.

Xerostomia, is a very frequent contributing feature to halitosis, and makes a number of oral changes to arise. In a dry mouth the bacteria become more intensified in the saliva, and the volatile sulfur compounds many bacteria produce tend to evaporate more readily into the air. When this occurs, bad breath will be more perceptible.

In addition, the pH or acid/base balance of the mouth turns out to be altered, and supplies an environment that is more favorable to the build up of anaerobic bacteria. Because there is less saliva the rinsing effect of saliva is diminished, and this results in additional bacteria and cellular debris gathering in the oral cavity.

The sources for dry mouth are plentiful but can be readily dealt with. A good blog on the subject of dry mouth is located at http://www.dry–mouth.com.