Which term describes the subjective sensation of oral dryness?

Which term describes the subjective sensation of oral dryness?

• A. Xerostomia
• B. Hyposalivation
• C. Aphagia
• D. Gingival recession

Answer: (A)

The sensation of oral dryness reported by a patient is xerostomia. It’s a subjective symptom—the person feels their mouth is dry, regardless of measured saliva. Different from this is hyposalivation, which describes an actual decrease in saliva production that can be quantified with tests. A person may feel dry mouth even if saliva flow is normal, and conversely, reduced saliva doesn’t always produce a strong dryness sensation. Aphagia refers to difficulty or inability to swallow, not dryness, and gingival recession is the pulling back of the gum line from the teeth, a periodontal issue.

The sensation of oral dryness reported by a patient is xerostomia. It’s a subjective symptom—the person feels their mouth is dry, regardless of measured saliva. Different from this is hyposalivation, which describes an actual decrease in saliva production that can be quantified with tests. A person may feel dry mouth even if saliva flow is normal, and conversely, reduced saliva doesn’t always produce a strong dryness sensation. Aphagia refers to difficulty or inability to swallow, not dryness, and gingival recession is the pulling back of the gum line from the teeth, a periodontal issue.