Prevalence, predictors and severity of xerostomia in adult patients in general dental care

Journal article, 2026

Objectives – While xerostomia (subjective dry mouth) is frequently studied in elderly populations, this study focuses on adults aged 18–82 years to explore prevalence across a broader age spectrum, including younger adults who may experience xerostomia due to medications or systemic conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of xerostomia in patients visiting general dental care, and to assess whether age, sex, comorbidities, and medications are associated with the condition. Methods – This cross-sectional study included adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) visiting two general dental clinics in Region Västra Götaland in Sweden. Patients agreeing to participate were asked, “Have you experienced dry mouth in the last six months?”. Participants replying “Yes” filled in the 11-item questionnaire Xerostomia Inventory to determine variability and severity of symptoms. Participants reporting no experience of dry mouth the last six months were included in the non-xerostomia group. Results – Out of 344 participants, the prevalence of xerostomia was 34.6% (n = 119). Self-reported use of ≥1 medication was the strongest predictor (OR: 2.50, 95% CI 1.42–4.29, p = 0.001) of xerostomia. Xerostomia was reported by 45.6% of participants with at least one disease compared with 31.2% of those without reported disease. Age, and biological sex, were not significant predictors. Conclusion and clinical relevance – The prevalence of xerostomia was high among patients seeking general dental care. Since early diagnosis and preventive dental care are crucial for managing the condition, awareness of the association between medications and xerostomia could benefit dental and health care professionals, ultimately improving patient outcomes.