Hello dear,
Saliva acts as a lubricating agent during chewing of food.
Hence slow/ absence of saliva secretion results in difficulty in eating food.
Causes for this can be:
1. Inflammation/ infection of salivary glands
2. Obstruction of the salivary ducts
3. Dehydration
4. Underlying metabolic or hormonal cause like
Diabetes,
Thyroid disorder, etc.
5. Fever, upper
respiratory tract infection
6. Sjogren's Syndrome- autoimmune damage of salivary glands
Clinical examination of the oral cavity & salivary glands and investigations like
Sialography will be helpful in clinching the diagnosis.
Symptomatic management involves:
1. Maintaining good oral hygiene
2. Maintain adequate hydration status of the body
3. Saliva substitutes like methylcellulose preparations
4. Saliva stimulants like
Pilocarpine preparations
So, kindly consult your Physician/ Gastroenterologist & get a proper clinical examination done.
Wishing you a good health.
Take care.