Ace Cariology & Prevention 2 in 2026 – Smile Your Way to Success!

Dry mouth happens when saliva production falls below what the mouth needs to stay moist. The minor salivary glands provide baseline lubrication by continuously secreting mucus-rich saliva to coat the oral mucosa at rest. If these glands are underactive, that baseline lubrication diminishes, so the mouth feels dry or sticky even if the major glands could still respond later. Producing too much saliva or increasing the flow would make the mouth feel moist, not dry, so those scenarios don’t explain the sensation.