Dry Mouth and Hormones: The Autonomic Lens

Split illustration comparing a cool blue, well-lubricated mouth with a red, dry and parched mouth.

Dry mouth is often described as “not enough saliva,” but that phrase misses part of the story. Saliva is a tightly regulated secretion shaped by the nervous system, gland function, medications, hydration, disease, and—less directly—hormonal state. A person can also experience dry mouth even when measured salivary flow is within the normal range. [1][2]

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