Which condition is associated with more than 500 medications, increases risk of caries, and disrupts taste?

• A. Dysgeusia
• B. Xerostomia
• C. Halitosis
• D. Glossitis

Answer: (B)

Xerostomia is a decrease in saliva production. A large number of medications—more than 500 drugs have drying effects on the mouth—can cause this condition. Saliva protects teeth by washing away sugars, buffering acids, supplying minerals for remineralization, and providing antimicrobial action. When saliva flow is reduced, the environment becomes more favorable for dental caries and plaque buildup, because acids aren’t neutralized and sugars aren’t cleared as effectively. Saliva also helps dissolve and carry tastants to taste buds, so diminished saliva can blunt or alter taste perception, leading to taste disturbances. While other options describe related oral effects, they don’t align as directly with both widespread medication-induced dry mouth and the consequent rise in caries risk and taste disruption.