What are the best management strategies for radiation-induced xerostomia?

BACKGROUND The most common long-term complication of radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer is dry mouth or xerostomia. Salivary glands are radiosensitive; their destruction begins shortly after the initiation of therapy with the extent of injury directly related to the amount of radiation to which they are exposed. The subsequent xerostomia is challenging to manage, leads to multiple and often long-term oral complications, and can significantly impair patients’ quality of life. This article utilizes comprehensive review of literature, identified through publicly available search engines, to outline the current best practice recommendations for patients with RT-induced xerostomia.