Mucoadhesive Disk used for the Relief of Dry Mouth

Xerostomia, also termed dry mouth is dryness in the mouth, which may be associated with a change in the composition of saliva, or reduced salivary flow (hyposalivation), or have no identifiable cause. This symptom is very common and is often seen as a side effect of many types of medication. It is more common in older people (mostly because this group tend to take several medications) and in persons who breathe through their mouths (mouthbreathing). Dehydration, radiotherapy involving the salivary glands, and several diseases can cause hyposalivation or a change in saliva consistency and hence a complaint of xerostomia. Sometimes there is no identifiable cause, and there may be a psychogenic reason for the complaint¹. In the last two decades the mucoadhesive drugs have taken a giant leap from the research laboratories to the hand of patients. One among these are the mucoadhesive disks for the relief of xerostomia. In this review, mucoadhesive disks and it's use in the treatment of xerostomia is explained.