Dry Mouth
What is dry mouth?
Dry Mouth (also known as xerostomia) occurs when the salivary glands in your mouth don’t produce enough saliva. This can result in having a dry or parched feeling in your mouth. Sometimes dry mouth is just annoying but for some people, it can affect other aspects of their health and their overall quality of life. Around 10-30% of the population experience dry mouth, with the condition more common in the elderly.
What are the symptoms of dry mouth?
The salivary glands in the mouth produce saliva which plays an important role in helping us chew, taste and swallow food, as well as removing food from our teeth and keeping bacteria under control. Lack of saliva can lead to symptoms of dry mouth which can vary from person to person. Some people may only experience a few symptoms while others may experience many. In severe cases dry mouth can make it difficult to speak, eat and swallow. Dry mouth may involve one or more of these symptoms:
cracked and dry lips
a hoarse voice, cough or sore throat
sticky, thick or stringy saliva
feeling thirsty, especially at night
needing more liquid to swallow food
changes to the taste of food
having trouble chewing and swallowing, especially dry foods
dry eyes, nose or corners of the mouth
a rough, dry tongue or tongue that sticks to the roof of your mouth
bad breath
oral thrush (yeast infection)
increase in plaque and tooth decay
difficulty speaking
loose dentures
bleeding gums
What causes dry mouth?
Dry mouth is not a disease but rather a symptom of other factors, including other health conditions and the side effect of some medications. Some of these may have short-term effects on saliva production, while others can disrupt saliva production long-term. Common causes of dry mouth include:
Blockages in the salivary ducts
Blockages in the salivary ducts which reduce the flow of saliva
Other medical conditions
Dry mouth can be caused by the following medical conditions:
Sjogren’s syndrome
HIV/AIDS
amyloidosis
cerebral palsy
diabetes
Parkinson’s disease
lupus
primary biliary cirrhosis
Alzheimer’s disease
anxiety and depression
nasal congestion, requiring you to sleep with your mouth open
Drugs and medications
Around 600 drugs and medications may cause dry mouth. These include antihistamines, medications for high blood pressure, sedatives, decongestants, analgesics (pain relief), antidepressants and illegal drugs. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy (if directed at the head or neck area) may also temporarily reduce saliva production.
Infections
Bacterial or viral infections such as mumps can lead to dry mouth symptoms.
Dehydration
Not being hydrated can lead to dry mouth. This includes dehydration as a result of not drinking enough water, and dehydration caused by medical conditions such as kidney failure, or chronic diarrhoea.
Facial nerve damage
Facial nerve damage either through illness or surgery.
Tobacco
Tobacco chewing or smoking
How is dry mouth diagnosed?
If your dry mouth symptoms persist or worsen, you should visit your doctor. They will examine your mouth and discuss what medications you are taking, along with other factors such as drinking, eating, and/or smoking.
Your doctor will probably ask you to do a simple saliva test which involves patting the lower lip dry and seeing how long it takes for saliva to re-moisten it. Normally this should take between 30-60 seconds.
As dry mouth is most often a side effect of other medical conditions, your doctor may also order blood tests or imaging scans to check why your salivary glands are not working properly.
How is dry mouth treated?
The most effective way to treat dry mouth is to treat the underlying cause of the condition. Depending on the cause of your dry mouth, treatment may include:
changes in medication
antibiotics or antifungal medication to treat any infection
oral lubricants and saliva substitutes
dental products containing high fluoride or calcium to help prevent tooth decay
surgery to remove any blockages in the saliva glands
What are the complications of dry mouth?
Left untreated, dry mouth can lead to:
mouth sores
cracked or split lips
dry and cracked corners of the mouth
increased plaque, tooth decay and gum disease
oral thrush
poor nutrition due to difficulties chewing and swallowing
bad breath
What else can you do?
While you may not always be able to prevent dry mouth, there are lots of things you can do to ease the discomfort and minimise symptoms. These include:
avoiding substances that make your mouth dry such as cigarettes, alcohol, caffeinated drinks and spicy foods
making water your beverage of choice and sipping it regularly throughout the day
including foods high in water content in your diet such as melons (watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe), celery, cucumbers, zucchini, and leafy greens
limiting sugary drinks and food, and acidic foods and beverages as these may damage the enamel on your teeth
avoiding hard or crunchy foods that could injure the inside of your mouth when you chew
applying natural balm or lanolin on your lips
chewing sugar-free gum between meals to promote flow of saliva
brushing your teeth and flossing regularly
cleaning dentures regularly and removing them when sleeping
using an air humidifier in your bedroom when you sleep to reduce the likelihood of breathing through your mouth
Because dry mouth can affect your oral health, it’s also important to visit your dentist every 6 months for a check-up (or more often if your dentist recommends it) and to seek advice if dentures or other oral appliances don’t fit properly.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to your dry mouth symptoms, including medication. We can help you manage your health with a Medication Review with one of our pharmacists. They can assess medication you’re currently taking to determine if it may be contributing to your symptoms, and make recommendations based on what may be best for you. We can also provide advice as to which OTC medications and pharmacy products may be appropriate to help you.
Book a Medication Review at your nearest MediADVICE today.
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