Dry mouth is when you don’t have enough saliva in your mouth. It can make eating and talking more difficult and can also cause bad breath.
It was once thought to be part of aging, though certain medications and other factors are now known to cause it, as well.
In this article, I’ll cover what dry mouth is and what can cause it. I’ll also go over some treatments to help relieve dry mouth.
What is Dry Mouth?
Being nervous, stressed, or upset can cause dry mouth, which almost everyone has experienced before. However, some people experience dry mouth, also called xerostomia, on a frequent or chronic basis.
A consistently dry mouth is uncomfortable and can lead to some serious problems. It can also be a sign of certain conditions or diseases.
Saliva plays an important role in the following functions:
Digesting food
Preventing tooth decay
Controlling growth of bacteria and fungi in the mouth
Making chewing and swallowing possible
Without enough saliva, you are at risk for tooth decay, infections, bad breath, and not absorbing enough nutrition.
See a doctor online.
Start my visit
Symptoms
Symptoms of dry mouth include:
Dry sticky feeling in the mouth
Cracked lips
Feeling thirsty
Burning sensation in the mouth
Trouble speaking
Trouble chewing and swallowing
Dry, rough tongue
Sores in the mouth
Bad breath
Dental problems
Causes of Dry Mouth
You have glands in your mouth that create your saliva. When these glands aren’t working correctly you can have a dry mouth.
There are several reasons why your glands may not be producing enough saliva, including the following.
Dehydration
Dehydration could cause your mouth to be dry. It occurs when your body doesn’t have enough water to function properly.
Mild to moderate dehydration symptoms include:
Dry and sticky mouth
Not urinating often
Dark yellow urine
Feeling thirsty
Muscle cramps
More severe dehydration symptoms include:
Dark and foul-smelling urine
Confusion or irritability
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
Fast breathing and heartbeat
Sunken eyes
Shock
Dehydration can be caused by being sick and experiencing conditions such as diarrhea or vomiting, sweating profusely in hot weather, not drinking enough fluids, or taking a diuretic.
Medication Side Effects
There are some medications you may be taking that are causing you to have dry mouth. It is a common side effect of many drugs.
Over 400 medications cause the salivary glands to produce less saliva.
Examples of medications that can make your mouth feel dry include:
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Anxiety medications
Pain medications
Heart disease medications
Asthma medications
Medications for epilepsy
Chemotherapy and radiation can also slow down saliva production.
Stress and Aging
During stress, anxiety, or nervousness, a person’s mouth can feel parched.
This is a classic symptom of a person about to give a presentation to a group of people. Usually, this type of dry mouth is temporary and is relieved after the stress is over.
Aging itself does not cause dry mouth. However, dry mouth is common in older adults because they tend to have more health conditions and take more medications that may cause it.
Some health problems that can cause dry mouth include:
HIV/AIDS
Parkinson’s disease
Cystic fibrosis
Alzheimer’s disease
Sjogren’s syndrome
Injury to the nerves controlling saliva production
Mouth Breathing
Mouth breathing is sometimes a sign of something wrong with your sinuses, tonsils, or adenoids or could just be a habit.
Our bodies were not designed for breathing through the mouth but rather breathing through the nose. Always breathing through your mouth can lead to a mouth that tends to be dry, but not because there is a problem with your salivary glands.
See your medical provider if you are a mouth breather to determine what could be the cause.
Smoking or Vaping
Smoking and vaping release environmental toxins that can be harmful for your body and mouth.
Vaping or e-cigs have been advertised as being a safe alternative to smoking, however, current research shows that vaping exposes you to many chemicals that are not only harmful for your body but your mouth as well.
The chemicals you may be exposed to include:
Nicotine
Formaldehyde
Acetaldehyde
Nitrosamines
Heavy metals (e.g. nickel, cadmium, chromium, lead)
Arsenic
Silica
Exposure to these chemicals increases your risk for oral cancer, periodontitis, inflammation, and break down of the nerves.
Treating Dry Mouth
Treating your dry mouth depends on what is causing it to be dry.
If your mouth is dry, see your dentist or primary medical provider and they can help you determine the underlying cause.
Home care
The following are some tips you can do on your own to help moisten your dry mouth:
Frequently sip on water and sugar free drinks
Avoid caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and some sodas
Sip water throughout your meals
Chew sugar free gum or suck sugar free candy
Cut down on tobacco and alcohol use
Stay away from salty or spicy foods
Suck on ice chips or frozen grapes
Try to breathe through your nose instead of your mouth
Use a humidifier at night while you sleep
Try over-the-counter (OTC) artificial saliva sprays and mouth washes
Medical care
Depending on on the cause, you primary medical professional may:
Change your current medications or adjust the dosage
Write a prescriptions for a medication that can help your salivary glands produce saliva
Suggest you use use artificial saliva
Prevention
To help prevent yourself from getting dry mouth:
Visit your dentist every six months for a check-up
Gently brush your teeth twice a day
Keep yourself hydrated
Avoid tobacco and vaping
Avoid caffeine and alcohol
Floss at least once a day
Avoid sugary drinks
See a doctor online.
Start my visit
When To Seek Medical Attention
If you have a dry mouth and also experience the following, contact your healthcare professional:
Dry mouth that doesn’t go away
Difficulty swallowing
Burning sensation in your mouth
White patches in your mouth
Did you know you can get affordable primary care with the K Health app?
Download K Health to check your symptoms, explore conditions and treatments, and if needed text with a healthcare provider in minutes. K Health’s AI-powered app is based on 20 years of clinical data.