Xerostomia is best described as

• A. Sensation of dry mouth due to decreased salivary flow
• B. Excessive saliva production
• C. Painful burning sensation of the mucosa without dryness
• D. Inflamed tongue

Answer: (A)

Xerostomia is the sensation of a dry mouth caused by reduced saliva production. It is a subjective symptom—patients feel dryness, a sticky sensation, or a dry throat, which can occur with medications (like many antidepressants or antihypertensives), systemic diseases (such as Sjögren’s syndrome or diabetes), radiation therapy to the head and neck, or dehydration. Because saliva helps clean teeth and buffer acids, dry mouth can lead to increased dental caries, mucosal irritation, and difficulties with chewing, swallowing, or speaking.

This description is opposite to excessive saliva production, which would be the body producing too much saliva. It’s also not a burning sensation of the mucosa without dryness—that would point to burning mouth syndrome. And it’s not an inflamed tongue, which would be glossitis.