Dry Mouth

Overview

Dry mouth, medically called xerostomia, is the uncomfortable feeling that the mouth does not have enough moisture. It happens when the salivary glands do not make enough saliva. Saliva does much more than keep the mouth wet: it helps you taste, chew, and swallow food, keeps the mouth clean, fights bacteria, and protects the teeth from decay.

An occasional dry mouth, such as when you are nervous or dehydrated, is normal. Persistent dry mouth, however, can affect quality of life and dental health, leading to difficulty eating and speaking, bad breath, mouth sores, and more cavities. Dry mouth is very often a side effect of medication, and it becomes more common with age, mainly because older adults take more medicines. Finding and addressing the cause usually brings relief.

Common Causes

Reduced saliva can result from many factors:

• Medications: One of the most common causes; hundreds of medicines list dry mouth as a side effect, including some for allergies, depression, high blood pressure, pain, and overactive bladder.
• Dehydration: From not drinking enough, fever, sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Mouth breathing and snoring: Especially at night or with a blocked nose.
• Medical conditions: Diabetes, Sjogren syndrome (an autoimmune condition that targets moisture-producing glands), and nerve damage.
• Cancer treatment: Radiation to the head and neck and some chemotherapy can damage salivary glands.
• Tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine: Which can dry the mouth or worsen the feeling.

Associated Symptoms

Dry mouth often comes with other symptoms in and around the mouth, and sometimes elsewhere:

• A sticky, dry feeling and thick saliva
• Bad breath and a changed sense of taste
• Trouble chewing, swallowing, or speaking
• Cracked lips, mouth sores, or a sore, raw tongue
• More dental cavities and gum problems
• Dry eyes, dry skin, or joint pain (which may point to Sjogren syndrome)
• Increased thirst and frequent urination (which may point to diabetes)

The pattern of symptoms helps a clinician decide whether dry mouth is a simple side effect or part of a wider condition.

Diagnosis & Evaluation

A clinician or dentist will review your medications, ask about your fluid intake, breathing, and other symptoms, and examine your mouth for dryness, sores, and signs of decay. Depending on the suspected cause, evaluation may include:

• Reviewing and possibly adjusting medicines known to cause dryness
• Blood tests for diabetes, autoimmune conditions, or thyroid problems
• Tests that measure saliva production
• A referral to a specialist if Sjogren syndrome or another condition is suspected

Often the cause is clear from the medication list and history alone.

Treatment & Management

Treatment aims to relieve the dryness and protect the teeth while addressing the cause:

• Stay hydrated: Sip water often and with meals.
• Stimulate saliva: Sugar-free gum or lozenges, especially with xylitol, can boost saliva flow.
• Saliva substitutes: Over-the-counter sprays, gels, and rinses designed for dry mouth.
• Protect your teeth: Brush with fluoride toothpaste, see your dentist regularly, and ask about extra fluoride.
• Adjust habits: Limit caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, and use a humidifier at night.
• Review medications: Your prescriber may change a medicine or dose, or in some cases prescribe a medication that stimulates saliva.

Treating an underlying condition, such as controlling diabetes, often improves the dryness as well.

When to See a Doctor

See a doctor or dentist if dry mouth is persistent and bothersome, or if it comes with:

• Difficulty swallowing, eating, or speaking
• Frequent mouth sores or rapidly worsening dental decay
• Dry eyes, joint pain, or other symptoms suggesting an autoimmune condition
• Increased thirst and urination, which can signal diabetes

Because long-term dry mouth raises the risk of cavities and gum disease, regular dental care is important. Tell your prescriber before stopping any medicine, so a safe alternative can be arranged if needed.

Self-Care & Prevention

Daily habits can keep your mouth more comfortable and protect your teeth when dryness is ongoing:

• Sip water frequently and take small sips with meals to help chewing and swallowing
• Chew sugar-free gum or suck sugar-free lozenges, ideally with xylitol, to stimulate saliva
• Use a humidifier at night, especially if you breathe through your mouth
• Limit caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, which all dry the mouth, and avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes
• Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss, and see your dentist regularly; ask about extra fluoride
• Avoid very sugary or acidic drinks that speed up tooth decay

Treating the underlying cause, such as controlling diabetes or adjusting a drying medication with your prescriber, gives the best long-term relief.

Related Topics

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). Dry Mouth.
2. Mayo Clinic. Dry mouth — Symptoms and causes.
3. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Dry mouth.
4. American Dental Association (ADA).