Using our advice
Before considering a specific saliva substitute product for dry mouth, ensure you are familiar with our general guidance on considerations when choosing or prescribing saliva substitutes:
Considerations for artificial saliva products in dentistry
Prescribable artificial saliva products
Only certain products can be supplied on an FP10D prescription. However, all products can also be purchased from dental surgeries or retail outlets, and dentists may prescribe any product privately.
Manufacturers may change the formulations of their products. Check with the manufacturer for the most up to date information on the origins of a product’s ingredients.
Aequasyal spray
Can be prescribed on an FP10D as Artificial Saliva Protective Spray DPF.
This product:
- does not contain fluoride
- does not contain animal products
- does not contain gluten
- does not contain sugar
- contains the sweetener aspartame
- has pH 6.5 to 7
Biotene moisturising gel
Can be prescribed on an FP10D as Artificial Saliva Gel DPF.
This product:
- does not contain fluoride
- does not contain animal products
- does not contain gluten
- does not contain sugar
- contains the sweeteners xylitol and sorbitol
- has pH 5 to 7
BioXtra dry mouth gel mouth spray
Can be prescribed on an FP10D as Artificial Saliva Oral Spray, DPF.
This product:
- contains fluoride (concentration of 150 parts per million)
- contains cow’s milk and enzymes from milk
- contains trace amounts of gluten (less than 20 parts per million)
- does not contain sugar
- contains the sweetener sodium saccharin
- has pH 6.8 to 7.2 (average 7)
BioXtra dry mouth oral gel
Can be prescribed on an FP10D as Artificial Saliva Gel, DPF.
This product:
- does not contain fluoride
- contains cow’s milk and enzymes from milk and egg white
- contains trace amounts of gluten (less than 20 parts per million)
- contains very small amounts of sugar to help activate glucose oxidase enzyme. This sugar does not contribute to tooth decay
- does not contain sweeteners
- has pH 5 to 7.5 (average 5.6)
Oralieve moisturising dry mouth gel
Can be prescribed on an FP10D as Artificial Saliva Gel, DPF.
This product:
- does not contain fluoride
- contains whey protein from cows
- contains gluten
- contains very small amounts of sugar to help activate glucose oxidase enzyme. This sugar does not contribute to tooth decay
- contains the sweetener xylitol
- has pH ‘roughly neutral on use’, according to the manufacturer
Saliveze dry mouth spray
Can be prescribed on an FP10D as Artificial Saliva Oral Spray, DPF.
This product:
- does not contain fluoride
- does not contain animal products
- does not contain gluten
- does not contain sugar
- contains the sweetener sorbitol
- has pH 7
Salivix dry mouth relief pastilles
Can be prescribed on an FP10D as Artificial Saliva Pastilles, DPF.
This product:
- does not contain fluoride
- contains beeswax
- does not contain gluten
- does not contain sugar
- contains the sweeteners maltitol and xylitol
- has pH 4.6 to 4.8
Salivix spray
Can be prescribed on an FP10D as Artificial Saliva Oral Spray, DPF.
This product:
- contains fluoride (concentration 9mcg per spray)
- does not contain animal products
- does not contain gluten
- does not contain sugar
- contains the sweeteners xylitol and glycerol
- has pH 4
Non-prescribable artificial saliva products
Not all products can be supplied on an FP10D prescription. However, all products can be purchased from dental surgeries or retail outlets, and dentists may prescribe any product privately.
Manufacturers may change the formulations of their products. Check with the manufacturer for the most up to date information on the origins of a product’s ingredients.
Biotene moisturising mouthwash
Can not be prescribed on an FP10D prescription.
This product:
- does not contain fluoride
- does not contain animal products
- does not contain gluten
- does not contain sugar
- contains the sweeteners xylitol and sorbitol
- has pH 6.5 to 7.5
Biotene fluoride toothpaste
Can not be prescribed on an FP10D prescription.
This product:
- contains fluoride (concentration of 1450 parts per million)
- does not contain animal products
- does not contain gluten
- does not contain sugar
- contains the sweeteners sodium saccharin and sucralose
- has pH 6 to 8
BioXtra dry mouth mild toothpaste
Can not be prescribed on a FP10D prescription.
This product:
- contains fluoride (concentration of 1450 parts per million)
- contains cow’s milk and enzymes from milk and egg white
- contains trace amounts of gluten (less than 20 parts per million)
- contains very small amounts of sugar to help activate glucose oxidase enzyme. This sugar does not contribute to tooth decay
- contains the sweetener sodium saccharin
- has pH 6 to 6.5 (average 6.2)
BioXtra dry mouth ultra mild mouthrinse
Can not be prescribed on an FP10D prescription.
This product:
- contains fluoride (concentration of 1500 parts per million)
- contains cow’s milk and enzymes from milk and egg white
- does not contain gluten
- does not contain sugar
- does not contain sweeteners
- has pH 5.5 to 7.2 (average 7.1)
Oralieve moisturising mouth spray
Can not be prescribed on an FP10D prescription.
This product:
- does not contain fluoride
- contains whey protein from cows
- contains gluten
- contains very small amounts of sugar to help activate glucose oxidase enzyme. This sugar does not contribute to tooth decay
- contains the sweetener xylitol
- has pH ‘roughly neutral on use’, according to the manufacturer
Oralieve ultra mild toothpaste
Can not be prescribed on an FP10D prescription.
This product:
- contains fluoride (concentration of 1450 parts per million)
- contains whey protein from cows
- contains gluten
- contains very small amounts of sugar to help activate glucose oxidase enzyme. This sugar does not contribute to tooth decay
- contains the sweetener xylitol
- has pH ‘roughly neutral on use’, according to the manufacturer
Oralieve alcohol-free mouthwash
Can not be prescribed on an FP10D prescription.
This product:
- contains fluoride (concentration of 225 parts per million)
- contains whey protein from cows
- contains gluten
- contains very small amounts of sugar to help activate glucose oxidase enzyme. This sugar does not contribute to tooth decay
- contains the sweetener xylitol
- has pH ‘roughly neutral on use’, according to the manufacturer
Xerostom gel
Can not be prescribed on an FP10D prescription.
This product:
- does not contain fluoride
- does not contain animal products
- does not contain gluten
- does not contain sugar
- does not contain sweeteners
- has pH 5.5 to 6.5
Xerostom mouthwash
Can not be prescribed on an FP10D prescription.
This product:
- contains fluoride (concentration of 249 parts per million)
- does not contain animal products
- does not contain gluten
- does not contain sugar
- contains the sweeteners sucralose and stevia
- has pH 6.5 to 7.5
Xerostom toothpaste
Can not be prescribed on an FP10D prescription.
This product:
- contains fluoride (concentration of 1450 parts per million)
- does not contain animal products
- does not contain gluten
- does not contain sugar
- does not contain sweeteners
- has pH 7 to 8
Xerostom mouth spray
Can not be prescribed on an FP10D prescription.
This product:
- does not contain fluoride
- does not contain animal products
- does not contain gluten
- does not contain sugar
- contains the sweeteners sucralose and stevia
- has pH 6.3 to 7.3
Unavailable products
The following products are listed in standard reference sources (BNF, Drug Tariff or Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d)) but are not currently available:
- AS Saliva Orthana lozenges (ACBS-approved for dry mouth resulting from radiotherapy or sicca syndrome)
- AS Saliva Orthana spray (can be supplied from a prescription written for Artificial Saliva Oral Spray, DPF)
- Glandosane aerosol spray (discontinued)
- Salivix Plus pastilles (can not be prescribed on an FP10D prescription)
- SST saliva stimulating tablets (discontinued)
- Xerostom pastilles (not marketed in the UK)
- Xerotin oral spray (discontinued)
Products included on this page
The BNF, Drug Tariff or dm+d were used to identify artificial saliva products for use in the UK. Information on product content and availability was obtained from manufacturers. The NHS BSA, dm+d, and Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances were consulted regarding prescribing eligibility and ACBS status.
Availability is subject to change as products enter and leave the market, and manufacturing or legislative issues arise and are resolved.
Other saliva replacement products, not included on this page, may be available for purchase.