Does dry mouth affect children differently than adults?

Dry mouth affects children and adults in similar ways. However, dry mouth is more likely to occur in adults and is rare in children. In both children and in adults, dry mouth can cause difficulties in tasting, chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Dry mouth can increase the risk of cavities in the teeth or mouth infections in both children and adults.

Dry mouth, or xerostomia, does not affect children differently than adults. However, chronic dry mouth is prevalent in adults for many different reasons. Certain medications, lifestyle choices, and age all lead to dry mouth, making dry mouth much more common among adults.