Why is my mouth so dry?

What is dry mouth?

Dry mouth (or xerostomia), is the persistent feeling of dryness in the mouth often caused by the lack of saliva. Dry mouth can cause a variety of oral health problems, as well as affecting quality of life, as it can be hard to speak and eat certain foods.

Do I have dry mouth?

People with dry mouth often experience the following symptoms:

1. dry feeling in the mouth, feels like your mouth is stuck
2. bad breath
3. difficulty chewing, swallowing and/or talking
4. feeling like you need to drink water all the time
5. taste changes
6. ill-fitting dentures

Apart from these symptoms, dry mouth can also cause other dental problems such as:

1. Tooth decay – saliva protects your teeth, and not having enough can cause the often rapid breakdown of tooth structure.
2. Irritations of the tissues inside the mouth
3. Sensation of a burning mouth
4. Infections of the salivary glands
5. Sleep disturbances due to the dryness
6. Infections in the mouth

If you think you have dry mouth, it’s important to seek both medical and dental help. Dry mouth can be an indicator of certain medical conditions, or caused by certain medications.

Common causes of dry mouth include:

1. Auto-immune and/or chronic diseases including Sjogren’s disease, arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Sarcoidosis
2. Endocrine problems including Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetes Insipidus, Hypothyroidism
3. Neurological/Psychological problems including depression, anxiety, Parkinson’s disease
4. Metabolic problems including dehydration, Chronic renal failure, Bulimia, Anaemia, Alcohol abuse
5. Infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C
6. Iatrogenic problems such as graft versus host disease, radiation therapy, and many medications

If you have dry mouth, speak with your dentist as soon as you can to help manage your symptoms and prevent dental problems early.

Some common ways to help improve dry mouth include:

1. Use of oral lubricants such as olive oil, or commercially available products. Commonly available products include: Biotene product range, GC Dry Mouth Gel and Oral 7 product range
2. Saliva stimulation by chewing sugar-free gum, or by electro-stimulation
3. Discuss the possibility of medication changes with your doctor (if applicable)

If you think you have dry mouth, call us now on 6143 5655 so we can discuss your individual needs, and help to make sure your teeth aren’t harmed by it. You can also book online here at any time. 

Author: Lydia