Dry Mouth: Why It Happens, Medicine Causes and What to Try

What it involves

MedlinePlus explains that dry mouth, also called xerostomia, means the salivary glands do not make enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. Everyone has a dry mouth now and then when nervous, but ongoing dryness can make chewing, swallowing and talking hard.

Who this is for

• Patients whose mouth feels dry or sticky most of the day, or who wake at night needing water
• Patients who take several medicines and noticed the dryness after starting one
• Patients with cracked lips, a rough tongue, mouth sores or frequent cavities
• Patients with diabetes who also notice a dry mouth and extra thirst

What to expect

• Questions about when the dryness began, what medicines and supplements you take and how much you drink
• A check of your mouth, head and neck, as MedlinePlus lists in the usual office visit
• Blood tests when a condition such as diabetes is possible, since the practice lists blood work among its services
• A plan that may adjust a medicine, add home measures or send you to a dentist or specialist

What saliva does for you

The MedlinePlus health topic page lists what saliva is for. It moistens and breaks down food so it is easier to chew and swallow, washes small food pieces off teeth and gums, carries minerals such as calcium and phosphate that help fight decay, and contains antibodies that help guard the mouth and throat against infection. When there is too little of it, acid-producing bacteria can increase, so the problem is not only comfort. It raises the risk of cavities, gum disease, mouth infections and bad breath.

Signs beyond the dry feeling

MedlinePlus lists a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth and throat as the classic symptom, and adds trouble chewing, swallowing, tasting or speaking, a burning feeling in the mouth, cracked lips, a dry, rough tongue and mouth sores. Saliva can turn thick or stringy. It also notes loss of taste and thirst among the signs. If taste has changed, the loss of smell and taste guide covers that symptom on its own. Bad breath often goes along with a dry mouth, as the bad breath guide explains.

Medicines are a leading cause

The encyclopedia names many prescription and over-the-counter medicines as common causes, including antihistamines, decongestants and medicines for high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, pain, heart disease, asthma and epilepsy. Other causes include dehydration, radiation or chemotherapy, nerve injury, tobacco, alcohol and street drugs, and health problems such as Sjogren syndrome, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease. It adds that aging itself does not cause dry mouth; older adults simply take more medicines. Never stop a prescription on your own, since that decision belongs to your provider.

Home steps that MedlinePlus lists

To soothe the dryness, MedlinePlus suggests drinking plenty of water, sucking ice chips or sugar-free frozen fruit pops, chewing sugar-free gum or candy to stimulate saliva, breathing through your nose, running a humidifier at night, and using over-the-counter artificial saliva or mouth moisturizers. It advises avoiding sugary drinks, caffeine, alcohol and alcohol-based mouthwash, acidic juices and tobacco. Eating soft, moist foods with broth or sauce can also help. These measures ease symptoms. They do not replace finding out why the mouth is dry.

Protect your teeth while you sort it out

Because dry mouth raises the risk of decay, MedlinePlus advises flossing daily, brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush, brushing after meals and seeing your dentist for regular checkups. The health topic page suggests at least two dental visits a year. If dryness comes with extra thirst and frequent urination, the excessive thirst guide and the frequent urination guide explain how blood sugar can be part of the picture.

When to be seen

MedlinePlus says to contact a provider if the dry mouth does not go away, if you have trouble swallowing, if there is a burning feeling in your mouth, or if you see white patches in the mouth. White patches can be a sign of a yeast infection, which the encyclopedia lists as a risk with ongoing dryness. At the visit, your provider may order blood tests, imaging of the salivary glands or a saliva flow test, and may change a medicine or suggest a saliva substitute.

Sources

• MedlinePlus — Dry mouth
• MedlinePlus — Dry Mouth (health topic)