Overview
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a condition in which the salivary glands in the mouth don't produce enough saliva to keep the mouth moist. This can result from various factors such as medication side effects, aging, or radiation therapy. Dry mouth can lead to increased plaque, tooth decay, gum disease, mouth sores, thrush, and issues with chewing and swallowing. Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Understanding the disease
Symptoms
The symptoms of dry mouth include:
- Dryness or a feeling of stickiness in your mouth
- Saliva that seems thick and stringy
- Bad breath
- Difficulty chewing, speaking, and swallowing
- Dry or sore throat and hoarseness
- Dry or grooved tongue
- A changed sense of taste
- Problems wearing dentures
- Lipstick sticking to the teeth. If you experience persistent dry mouth symptoms, it's important to consult your doctor for further evaluation and appropriate treatment.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for developing dry mouth include:
- Medications: Hundreds of medications, including over-the-counter drugs, can cause dry mouth as a side effect. Medications used to treat depression, high blood pressure, anxiety, and pain are more likely to cause dry mouth.
- Aging: Many older people experience dry mouth due to changes in the body's ability to process medication, inadequate nutrition, and having long-term health problems.
- Cancer therapy: Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can damage salivary glands, resulting in decreased saliva production.
- Nerve damage: Injury or surgery that causes nerve damage to the head and neck area can lead to dry mouth.
- Other health conditions: Dry mouth can be caused by conditions such as diabetes, stroke, yeast infection (thrush), Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune diseases like Sjogren's syndrome or HIV/AIDS, and snoring or breathing with the mouth open.
- Tobacco and alcohol use: Drinking alcohol and smoking or chewing tobacco can increase dry mouth symptoms. Remember, it's essential to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment if you're experiencing dry mouth.
Development
Dry mouth can develop due to various reasons, including medications, medical conditions, aging issues, and radiation therapy for cancer. Medications such as antidepressants, antihistamines, and pain medications can cause dry mouth as a side effect. Medical conditions like diabetes, Sjogren's syndrome, and Alzheimer's disease can also lead to dry mouth. Aging can contribute to dry mouth by affecting the body's ability to process medication and causing inadequate nutrition. Radiation therapy for cancer can damage the salivary glands, leading to reduced saliva production and dry mouth.
Assessment and Diagnosis
Triage
If you've noticed persistent dry mouth signs and symptoms, it would be appropriate to see a doctor. You should make an appointment with your doctor if you experience dryness or a feeling of stickiness in your mouth, thick and stringy saliva, bad breath, difficulty chewing, speaking, and swallowing, dry or sore throat and hoarseness, a dry or grooved tongue, a changed sense of taste, problems wearing dentures, or lipstick sticking to your teeth.
Diagnosis
To diagnose dry mouth, your doctor will likely:
- Review your medical history and all medications you're taking, including over-the-counter medications.
- Examine your mouth.
- Sometimes, additional tests may be required, such as blood tests, imaging scans of your salivary glands, or tests that measure saliva production. If Sjogren's syndrome is suspected, a small sample of cells (biopsy) taken from salivary glands in your lip may be sent for testing. Your doctor may also perform oral cultures or biopsies, allergy tests, salivary measurements, gastric reflux tests, or imaging scans to determine the cause of your dry mouth or to rule out other health problems. Remember to provide your doctor with a list of symptoms, any major stresses or recent life changes, all prescribed medications, vitamins, herbs, other supplements, and over-the-counter medications you're taking, and any questions you may have.
Management and Treatment
Complications
Potential complications of dry mouth include increased plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease due to reduced saliva that helps to prevent bacterial growth and wash away food particles. Additionally, dry mouth can lead to mouth sores, yeast infections (thrush), sores or split skin at the corners of your mouth or cracked lips, and poor nutrition from difficulties with chewing and swallowing.
Home Remedies
Home remedies for dry mouth include:
- Drinking plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
- Sucking on ice chips or sugar-free candy to stimulate saliva flow.
- Chewing sugar-free gum to increase saliva production.
- Using a humidifier at night to add moisture to the air while sleeping.
- Avoiding tobacco and alcohol as they can worsen dry mouth symptoms.
- Limiting caffeine intake as it can contribute to dehydration.
- Practicing good oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing daily, to prevent tooth decay and gum problems.
- Using a saliva substitute or artificial saliva product to keep the mouth moist. These remedies can help alleviate some of the discomfort associated with dry mouth, but it's important to consult with your healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.
Treatment
Treatment for dry mouth depends on the cause. If the dry mouth is caused by medication, the doctor may suggest changing the medication, adjusting the dosage, or taking the medication with a sip of water to help prevent dry mouth. If the dry mouth is caused by an underlying medical condition, the doctor may recommend treating the underlying condition. In addition to these treatments, there are several things you can do at home to alleviate the symptoms of dry mouth. These include:
- Drinking plenty of water throughout the day
- Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free lozenges to stimulate saliva flow
- Avoiding tobacco and alcohol
- Using a humidifier at night to add moisture to the air
- Limiting caffeine and acidic drinks, such as coffee and soda
- Using a saliva substitute or mouthwash to keep the mouth moist If you're experiencing persistent dry mouth symptoms, it's important to see a doctor to determine the underlying cause and receive proper treatment.
Preparing for medical consultation
To prepare for an appointment for dry mouth, make a list of your symptoms, including any unrelated ones, and gather information about your personal and medical history, medications, and any other health conditions you may have. Be sure to bring any relevant medical or dental records to the appointment, and consider bringing a family member or friend for support. Additionally, prepare a list of questions to ask your healthcare provider or dentist, such as the cause of your dry mouth, potential treatments, and any lifestyle changes you can make.