Dry Mouth Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Does your mouth feel dry? Do your lips and tongue feel cracked? Dry mouth is a prevalent problem affecting 10% of people and 25% of older persons.
This condition is often a symptom of an underlying problem, such as medicine side effects, medical treatments, salivary gland issues, or dietary and lifestyle factors.
If not treated, dry mouth can result in oral infections, tooth loss, and decay. Managing dry mouth involves adjusting medicines, staying hydrated, improving oral hygiene, changing diet, using saliva substitutes, or even undergoing surgery for salivary gland issues.
What Is Dry Mouth?
When the salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to keep the mouth wet, dry mouth occurs. Saliva is essential for preserving dental health because it protects teeth and gums, facilitates digestion, and improves flavour.
A decrease in saliva flow can result in a constant feeling of dryness, making everyday functions like eating, swallowing, and talking more difficult.
Common Causes of Dry Mouth
A dry mouth may be caused by a temporary condition that can be easily solved or a chronic disease that needs complex treatment.
- Medicines: Many medicines, mainly those older adults use, contribute to dry mouth. These include antidepressants, antihistamines, some blood pressure medicines, eye drops, cough medicines, pain relievers, urinary problem medicines, and asthma inhalers. Illegal drugs like cocaine also cause dry mouth.
- Dehydration: Insufficient fluid intake can thicken saliva, causing dry mouth. Dehydration may also result from excessive exercise, extreme heat, or medical conditions like blood loss, diarrhoea, or kidney failure.
- Infection: Bacterial or viral illnesses, including mumps, that affect the salivary glands can block and inflame salivary ducts.
- Salivary Duct Obstructions: Mineral deposits in saliva can form stones that block the salivary ducts.
- Medical Conditions: Certain diseases, such as AIDS, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, lupus, and Sjogren’s syndrome, increase the likelihood of dry mouth. Sjogren’s syndrome is particularly notable for decreasing fluid production in the eyes, salivary glands, and sweat glands.
- Nerve Problems: Facial nerve trauma or damage can reduce saliva production.
- Cancer Treatments: Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can temporarily reduce saliva production, especially in the head and neck region.
- Mouth Breathing: For dry mouth caused by chronic nasal congestion, blocked sinuses, or persistent mouth breathing, an examination by a throat, ear, and nose specialist is indicated.
Recognising the Signs and Symptoms
Dry mouth manifests in more ways than just thirst.
Common signs include:
- Thick, sticky, or stringy saliva
- Dry, rough, or cracked tongue
- Feeling like the tongue sticks to the roof of the mouth
- Trouble chewing or swallowing food
- Regular bad breath
- Frequent mouth ulcers
- Dry and cracked lips
- Oral fungal infections
- Extensive tooth decay
- The sensation of tingling or burning in the mouth, lips, and tongue
- Loose dentures due to low saliva flow
Why Saliva Matters
Saliva is essential for preserving dental health since it:
- Protecting teeth from bacteria that cause decay and tooth loss
- Protecting gums from bacteria that cause gum disease
- Remineralising tooth enamel with phosphorus and calcium
- Preventing fungal infections
- Fighting viruses
- Neutralising and buffering acids produced by bacteria and plaque
- Lubricating food to aid in swallowing
- Assisting in speech
- Enhancing the taste and texture of food
Practical Tips to Manage Dry Mouth
Set Good Oral Hygiene Habits:
- Brush teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.
- Use dental floss daily.
- Rinse with alcohol-free mouthwash.
Diet and Hydration:
- Limit consumption of acidic and sugary meals and beverages.
- Increase water intake (consult your GP for the right amount)
- Sip on plain tap water
- Suck small pieces of ice or spray water into your mouth
- Eat foods that require chewing to stimulate saliva production
- Chew sugar-free gum or lollies between meals
Lifestyle Changes:
- Use a water-based lip balm if your lips are dry
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol, both of which worsen dry mouth
- Use a humidifier while you sleep to make the air more moist.
Products That Can Help
A range of products is designed to relieve dry mouth.
Ask your dentist or pharmacist about:
- Saliva substitutes
- Moisturising gels and sprays
- Special toothpastes and mouthwashes (e.g., Biotene)
If you’re using an inhaler, always rinse your mouth afterwards. Your GP might suggest adjusting or timing your medicines differently for persistent symptoms to minimise dry mouth effects.
Who to Consult About Dry Mouth
Your General Practitioner (GP):
Your GP can review your current medications and medical history. They can coordinate a Home Medicine Review—a free service where a pharmacist evaluates your medications and suggests alternatives.
Your Dentist:
Routine dental examination every six months is essential for treating dry mouth. Your Seven Hills dentist can monitor your oral health, recommend products to ease symptoms, and help prevent complications like tooth decay or gum (periodontal) disease. Even if you wear dentures, regular dental check-ups are still important.
Dry Mouth Treatment Seven Hills
If you experience symptoms of dry mouth, take action today. Schedule an appointment with your GP and dentist to discuss your condition and receive personalised advice on managing dry mouth. Don’t let dry mouth compromise your oral health and overall well-being.
Contact us at My Local Dentists for a comprehensive dental check-up and professional guidance.
Let’s work together to keep your mouth healthy and comfortable!
Contact your Seven Hills dentist at (02) 8605 1696 or schedule an appointment online.
We are at Shop 55 (Ground Floor), Seven Hills Plaza, 224 Prospect Hwy, in Seven Hills.