The links at below cover topics of interest to the aging adult. To view PDF documents, Get the Free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Dry mouth Dry mouth, or a decrease in saliva flow, is a common problem among older adults. Sometimes, certain medications can cause dry mouth. Some common signs of dry mouth include a constant sore throat, problems speaking, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, or dry nasal passages.
Dry mouth is more than just an inconvenience.
Your mouth needs a adequate flow of saliva to lubricate the mouth, wash away food, and neutralize the acids produced by foods. Left untreated, dry mouth can accelerate the appearance of cavities. Talk to your dentist about dry mouth. He or she may recommend various methods to restore moisture, from chewing sugar free gum to prescribing an oral rinse. Sometimes, there are medical reasons for dry mouth, such as Sjogrens Syndrome .