Malic Acid in Treatment of Xerostomia

Background: xerostomia is a subjective sensation of dry mouth resulting from quantitative and /or qualitative changes of saliva. Patients receiving drugs like antihypertensives and antidepressants or patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy for treatment of head and neck cancers may suffer from xerostomia. It also can be experienced in patients with systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. Malic acid spray with concentration of 1% has grabbed the attention over the last few years as an effective treatment for xerostomia. Study objective: To evaluate the effect of 1% malic acid spray in treatment of xerostomia in type 2 diabetic patients.