What Causes Dry Mouth And What To Do About It

Just about everyone has experienced dry mouth at some point in life. Dry mouth is an itchy, uncomfortable feeling, almost like sucking on cotton balls. Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth can have various symptoms and causes.

Dry mouth happens when the salivary glands stop producing adequate saliva to feel comfortable. Additionally, the chemical composition of the saliva may change to make it less hydrating. Intense dry mouth, or dry mouth lasting for extended periods might lead to oral health problems down the road. Decreased saliva flow is usually a small inconvenience, but it can lead to tooth decay and have a huge effect on your health, teeth, and gums. Dry mouth might be caused by something as simple as decreased saliva flow during sleep. It could also have more serious causes, like medication or cancer treatment.

Benefits of Saliva

Tooth decay prevention

Saliva is incredibly important for your oral health. It helps “wash out” the mouth by removing debris and bacteria build up from the teeth and gums. Washing away debris is beneficial because it prevents that debris from making it deeper into the gum line where it can cause infection. Removing bacteria from the teeth is good, as plaque is bacteria on the teeth that produces acid causing tooth decay. Removing plaque can prevent tartar build-up, tooth damage, and periodontal disease.

Saliva also neutralizes the pH balance in the mouth. When the pH level is too low, the mouth is very acidic, which can wear away at the tooth enamel.

Digestion and eating

Besides preventing tooth decay, saliva aids in the digestion of food. It helps with the chewing and swallowing process. Saliva also enhances the flavor of food.

Symptoms of Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)

• A dry, sticky feeling in the mouth
• Bad breath
• Decreased sense of taste
• Sore throat, dry throat
• Difficulty chewing and swallowing (dysphagia)
• Difficulty speaking
• Burning sensation in the mouth and on the tongue
• Dry lips
• Mouth Sores
• Thick or ropey salivary
• Dry looking mucus
• A full list of symptoms can be found here.

Causes of Dry Mouth

Medications

• antihistamines
• antidepressants
• analgesics
• muscle relaxants
• Many more drugs can cause dry mouth.

If you are noticing xerostomia yourself, it’s best to assess if any medications you are on could be the cause.

Physiological reasons

People produce less saliva when they are sleeping, dehydrated, and anxious. Snoring and breathing with an open mouth can also dry it out.

This may seem obvious, but dry mouth might also be caused by low fluid intake.

Health conditions

• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Thrush (yeast infection of the mouth)
• Alzheimer’s
• Sjogren’s Syndrome
• HIV/AIDS
• Celiac disease
• Radiation therapy
• Hormonal disorders

Use of Drugs, tobacco and alcohol

Drugs like cannabis are famous for causing mild dry mouth. Methamphetamine is another drug that causes very serious dry mouth. Meth use also leads to excessive sugary drink consumption, which further damages oral health. Other drugs such as heroin and hallucinogens can also cause dry mouth.

Tobacco and alcohol can also cause dry mouth. Both can cause salivary gland disease, preventing adequate saliva production. Alcohol also has a natural dehydrating effect.

Nerve Damage

An injury causing nerve damage to the head and neck might also cause dry mouth.

Treatment

At-home methods

• Sip water throughout the day. You can also drink non-sugary, non-dehydrating drinks, like green tea.
• Chew sugar-free gum.
• Breathe through the nose.
• Moisturize your lips.
• Brush with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Use a humidifier, especially while sleeping.
• Avoid the following:
  • Tobacco
  • Sugary, spicy, and acidic foods. Yes, this means candy.
  • Caffeine and alcohol
  • Over-the-counter-antihistamines and decongestants

If you need serious treatment for dry mouth

If your dry mouth is worrying you, and you have tried the at-home remedies, we can help. Josey Lane Dentistry would be happy to give you advice, medication, and treat you for any oral health issue you might have. We are an experienced dentist office in Carrollton, and will be happy to help with any questions, concerns, or course of treatment. Reach out to us today, and we can help you with xerostomia, or any other periodontal problem you are facing.