Table 3.

Recommendations for the treatment of hyposalivation with oral mucosa lubricants and saliva substitutes.⁶⁶

Severe hyposalivation	A saliva substitute with gel-like properties should be used during the night and when daily activities are at a low level. During the day, a saliva substitute with properties resembling the viscoelasticity of natural saliva, such as substitutes which have xanthan gum and mucin (particularly bovine submandibular mucin) as a base should be applied.
Moderate hyposalivation	If gustatory, tactile or pharmacological stimulation of the residual salivary secretion does not provide sufficient amelioration, saliva substitutes with a rather low viscoelasticity, such as substitutes which have carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, mucin (porcine gastric mucin), or low concentrations of xanthan gum as a base are indicated. During the night or other periods of severe oral dryness, the application of a gel is helpful.
Slight hyposalivation	Gustatory, tactile or pharmacological stimulation of the residual secretion is the treatment of choice. Little amelioration is to be expected from the use of saliva substitutes.