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Xerostomia
Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the management of xerostomia are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR 2025), the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC/ISOO/ASCO 2021), the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO 2020), and the Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation (SSF 2016).
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Medical management
Caries prophylaxis: as per BSR 2025 guidelines, advise regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste, proactive dental care, and xylitol-containing products as an alternative to sugar to prevent dental decay in patients with Sjögren's disease.
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Muscarinic agonists
Biologic agents
Nonpharmacologic interventions
Salivary substitutes: as per BSR 2025 guidelines, consider offering saliva substitutes for symptomatic relief of oral dryness in patients with Sjögren's disease.
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Salivary stimulants
Acupuncture
Therapeutic procedures
Preventative measures
Prevention of radiation-induced xerostomia: as per ASCO/ISOO/MASCC 2021 guidelines, use intensity-modulated radiotherapy to spare major and minor salivary glands from a higher dose of radiation to reduce the risk of salivary gland hypofunction and xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer.
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