Dry mouth

Alternative Names

Saliva

What is Dry mouth

Dry mouth is a condition in which your mouth is uncommonly dry. Dry mouth is a widespread problem. It may influence your enjoyment of food and the health of your teeth. The medical term refered to dry mouth is xerostomia.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of this condition include:

• your saliva will be thick and stringy
• you may have cuts or cracks in your lips or at the corners of your mouth
• your dentures may no longer fit well
• you will be thirsty
• it may be hard to swallow and talk
• you may lose your sense of taste
• your tongue and mouth may feel sore

Possible complications

Dry mouth or lack of saliva can cause complications. Because swallowing becomes difficult, sufferers may often 'choke' as food flows down the esophagus and may constantly need to drink water while eating. Because saliva aids in proper digestion, digestive disorders can arise as a result of chronic dry mouth. Eating dry foods becomes almost impossible. Since saliva controls the bacteria and fungi in your mouth, dry mouth can significantly increase chances of tooth decay and infection in mouth - leading to other complications. In some cases, dry mouth can also be a sign of serious health problems and diseases. Tell your doctor about your dry mouth. He may be able to switch your prescriptions to limit side effects.

What causes

The causes of dry mouth may include:

• medications
• aging
• cancer therapy
• nerve damage
• other health conditions
• tobacco use

Prevention

You can prevent this condition by taking the following precautions:

• Take frequent sips of water or drinks without sugar. Pause often while speaking to sip some liquid. Avoid coffee, tea and soft drinks
• Drink frequently while eating. This will make chewing and swallowing easier and may increase the taste of foods
• Keep a glass of water by your bed for dryness during the night or upon awakening
• Chew sugarless gum - the chewing may produce more saliva
• Eat sugarless mints or hard sugarless candy but let them dissolve in your mouth
• Cinnamon and mint are often most effective
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol
• Avoid spicy, salty and highly acidic foods that may irritate the mouth
• Ask your dentist about using artificial salivas to help lubricate the mouth
• Use a humidifier, particularly at night

Treatment

You should discuss the treatment with your doctor. There is no special treatment for this condition.