Dry Mouth & Medical Conditions
The most common disease that causes dry mouth is Sjögren’s syndrome, a condition that affects parts of the body that produce fluids, such as tears and saliva.¹⁸
What is Sjögren’s Syndrome?
Sjögren’s (pronounced ‘show-grins’) Syndrome is a condition that affects parts of the body that produce fluids, like tears and saliva. The condition usually starts in people aged 40 to 60 and is much more common in women than men.¹⁸
Sjögren’s Syndrome is caused by the immune system (the body’s defence against infection), damaging healthy parts of the body. This is known as an autoimmune condition.¹⁸
The condition usually affects areas of the body that produce fluids, such as tears and saliva. But other parts of the body, such as nerves and joints, can also be affected.¹⁸
The Facts
Enlargement of major salivary glands occurs in about one-third of patients with Sjogren’s Syndrome.¹⁹
Women aged between 40 and 60 are most likely to be diagnosed with Sjögren’s Syndrome but it can affect anyone, with women accounting for about 90% of cases.²²
There may be up to half a million people in the UK living with Sjogren’s Syndrome.²²
