Xerostomia
Type: Symptom
Definition
An extreme, chronic dryness of the mouth caused by the failure of the salivary glands.
Clinical Details
The destruction of the salivary tissues halts the production of saliva, which is absolutely vital for chewing, swallowing, and speech. The patient's tongue becomes painfully dry, cracked, and heavily prone to secondary fungal infections like oral candidiasis. The total lack of protective salivary enzymes leads to rapid, catastrophic dental decay.