Side effects from head and neck cancer treatment may include damage to the taste buds and salivary glands. What can patients do to recover impaired sensation? How can moisture be restored to xerostomia, also known as dry mouth? Dr. Brad Mons, a head and neck surgeon from the Comprehensive Care and Research Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, discusses medicines available and surgical reconstruction options to protect a person’s oral health and regain their ability to salivate, taste and swallow.