Dry mouth - known medically as xerostomia - is a condition in which salivary glands do not produce enough saliva to keep the mouth moisturized. Xerostomia is a symptom - not a condition - and is usually the side effect of a medical condition or medication.
Saliva is your body’s natural means of washing the inside of your mouth, keeping it free of harmful bacteria, acids, and food particles. A lack of saliva production can result in:
- Bad breath
- Mouth sores
- Cavities
- Tooth Decay
- Gum Disease
- Yeast infections (oral thrush)
- Difficulty with chewing and swallowing
Aside from these complications, dry mouth can cause symptoms such as:
- An uncomfortable feeling of stickiness in the mouth
- Sore throat
- Difficulty eating
- Thick or stringy saliva
- Hoarseness
- Taste disorders
- Problems wearing dentures
Dry mouth is a result of diverse factors such as:
- Radiation therapy: Chemotherapy medication is one of the most common causes of dry mouth. These drugs may reduce saliva production, resulting in dry mouth. Additionally, radiation to the head or neck may damage the salivary glands, which can cause chronic dry mouth.
- Medications: Hundreds of medications list dry mouth and decreased saliva production as a side effect. Common drugs that cause dry mouth include antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, and blood pressure medication.
- Dehydration: If your body is lacking fluids, it will have a hard time producing saliva. Dry mouth caused by dehydration commonly occurs in individuals who are sick or who have sweat a lot.
- Health conditions: Health conditions such as diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, or autoimmune diseases may cause dry mouth.
- Snoring: Snoring and mouth breathing during sleep can dry out the moisture in your mouth, causing dry mouth.
- Smoking: Cigarette smoking dries out the mouth, which can lead to persistent dry mouth symptoms.
If you experience persistent dry mouth that does not respond to self-care methods, talk to your health care provider. While dry mouth rarely causes serious medical complications, it can lead to oral health problems such as tooth decay.