Dry mouth affects people with learning disabilities, too

摘要

This letter relates to 'Older adults at risk of medication-related dry mouth' {Clinical Pharmacist 2018;10(1):10). Dry mouth may be a problem in the ageing general population. But it can also present a lifetime difficulty for people with intellectual or learning disabilities. In general, people with intellectual or learning disabilities have poorer oral health and oral hygiene than the general population. When a person develops a dry mouth (whatever the cause), their saliva may become thick and sticky, which may make it difficult to speak or swallow. They may also have a 'prickly' or burning sensation in their mouth and become sensitive to certain foods. A dry mouth can become sore, and there is a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease.