Why do some salivary glands fail? Researchers point to hidden cell stress‎

For cancer patients undergoing head and neck radiation therapy, people living with Sjögren's syndrome, people with diabetes or older people, reduced saliva production and the resulting dry mouth are far more than uncomfortable. They can have major consequences for quality of life, making it difficult to eat, speak and swallow, altering taste perception, and increasing the risk of dental cavities and oral infections.