Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a condition in which the salivary glands don’t create enough saliva to keep the mouth properly hydrated. This results in a dry feeling inside the mouth for extended periods and can actually cause oral health problems if not addressed.

A research team from Queen Mary University in London have developed a new "bioactive" glass designed to help repair decaying teeth. The glass dissolves quickly to form chemicals that mimic tooth minerals to help restore the damaged teeth. The toothpaste has already been launched by the university's company, BioMin Technologies Ltd., under the name BioMinC. Last year, the team developed a fluoride-containing glass toothpaste called BioMinF. The new product, BioMinC, uses chloride-containing glass as an alternative for those who choose to forego fluoride toothpaste or for those in areas where the water is already fluoridated.