Diagram depicting mouth acidity changes after consuming food high in carbohydrates. Within 5 minutes the acidity in the mouth increases as the pH drops. In persons with normal salivary flow rate, acid will be neutralized in about 20 minutes. People with dry mouth often will take twice as long to neutralize mouth acid, leaving them at higher risk of tooth decay and acid erosion Hyposalivation may give the following signs and symptoms: * Dental caries (xerostomia related caries) – Without the buffering effects of saliva, tooth decay becomes a common feature and may progress much more aggressively than it would otherwise ("rampant caries"). It may affect tooth surfaces that are normally spared, e.g., cervical caries and root surface caries. This is often seen in patients who have had radiotherapy involving the major salivary glands, termed radiation-induced caries. Therefore, it is important that any products used in managing dry mouth symptoms are sugar-free, as the presence of sugars in the mouth support the growth of oral bacteria, resulting in acid production and development of dental caries. * Acid erosion. Saliva acts as a buffer and helps to prevent demineralization of teeth. * Oral candidiasis – A loss of the antimicrobial actions of saliva may also lead to opportunistic infection with Candida species. * Ascending (suppurative) sialadenitis – an infection of the major salivary glands (usually the parotid gland) that may be recurrent. It is associated with hyposalivation, as bacteria are able to enter the ductal system against the diminished flow of saliva. There may be swollen salivary glands even without acute infection, possibly caused by autoimmune involvement. * Dysgeusia – altered taste sensation (e.g., a metallic taste) and dysosmia, altered sense of smell. * Intraoral halitosis – possibly due to increased activity of halitogenic biofilm on the posterior dorsal tongue (although dysgeusia may cause a complaint of nongenuine halitosis in the absence of hyposalivation). * Burning mouth syndrome – a burning or tingling sensation in the mouth. * Saliva that appears thick or ropey. * Mucosa that appears dry. * A lack of saliva pooling in the floor of the mouth during examination. * Dysphagia – difficulty swallowing and chewing, especially when eating dry foods. Food may stick to the tissues during eating. * The tongue may stick to the palate, causing a clicking noise during speech, or the lips may stick together. * Gloves or a dental mirror may stick to the tissues. * Fissured tongue with atrophy of the filiform papillae and a lobulated, erythematous appearance of the tongue. * Saliva cannot be "milked" (expressed) from the parotid duct. * Difficulty wearing dentures, e.g., when swallowing or speaking. There may be generalized mucosal soreness and ulceration of the areas covered by the denture. * Mouth soreness and oral mucositis. * Lipstick or food may stick to the teeth. * A need to sip drinks frequently while talking or eating. * Dry, sore, and cracked lips and angles of mouth. * Thirst. However, sometimes the clinical findings do not correlate with the symptoms experienced. For example, a person with signs of hyposalivation may not complain of xerostomia. Conversely a person who reports experiencing xerostomia may not show signs of reduced salivary secretions (subjective xerostomia). In the latter scenario, there are often other oral symptoms suggestive of oral dysesthesia ("burning mouth syndrome"). Some symptoms outside the mouth may occur together with xerostomia. These include: * Xerophthalmia (dry eyes). * Inability to cry. * Blurred vision. * Photophobia (light intolerance). * Dryness of other mucosae, e.g., nasal, laryngeal, and/or genital. * Burning sensation. * Itching or grittiness. * Dysphonia (voice changes). There may also be other systemic signs and symptoms if there is an underlying cause such as Sjögren's syndrome, for example, joint pain due to associated rheumatoid arthritis.
symptom of Primary polydipsia
symptom of Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
symptom of Cushing's syndrome
symptom of Reactive hypoglycemia
symptom of Diabetic ketoacidosis
symptom of Klinefelter syndrome
symptom of Type 1 diabetes
symptom of Pancreatic cancer