Salivary gland hypofunction and chronic xerostomia can also be side effect of a
variety of autoimmune disorders (other than Sjögren’s syndrome), such as rheumatoid
disorders, scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease and systemic erythematous
lupus, advanced stages of HIV infection , endocrine disorders, such
as uncontrolled diabetes and thyroid and adrenal gland diseases , graft versus
host disease (GVHD) following allogeneic , or autologous hematopoietic stem
cell transplantation , malnutrition and protein deficiency in anorexia and bulimia
, chronic or neurogenic pain, smoking tobacco and cannabis , consumation
of drugs of abuse, drinking alcohol or caffeine-containing fluids, sleeping
with open mouth or mouth breathing at any time, such as during nasal congestion
and using inhalers, iatrogenic procedures and regimens, (anesthesia, intubation/
ventilator-assisted breathing, intravenous feeding etc)