Anxiety and Stress Induced Xerostomia and It’s Management: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: A 26-year-old man complained of dry mouth, difficulty in speech, chewing and intake of food. An in-detail medical history and physical examination revealed that due to his financial constraints at home, the patient is under constant stress, which may have caused this condition. Moreover, a tendency of snoring while sleeping which is probably stress related, may be contributing to his uncomfortable state. Aims: The aim of this report is to probe into the knowledge on management and treatment of patients affected by xerostomia. Case Report: A 26 years old man reported to the out-patient Department of Periodontology and reported with a chief complaint of a dry mouth, with difficulty in speech, swallowing and intake of food. The above symptoms were noticed starting 2 years back, when his family started facing financial constraints, due to which the patient felt constantly pressured and stressed. Discussion: Lot of patients experience difficulty while eating food that is of dry or hard consistency, they are left with no other option but to switch to a soft-consistency diet. Conclusion: Xerostomia when neglected can adversely impact the Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of a patient.a