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Palliative cancer care - oral problems - Management
How should the underlying causes of dry mouth be managed?

  • Treat any of the following underlying causes of dry mouth if appropriate:
    • Adverse effect of a drug being taken. Reduce the dose or change the drug if possible.
    • Dehydration. This should be reversed except in the terminal phase.
    • Anxiety. This becomes increasingly common towards the end of life and should be managed appropriately.
    • Candida infection. See Oral Candida infection.
    • If on oxygen consider humidification of this.

In depth

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