Dry Mouth

Cosmetic Dentistry Slideshow

• What causes dry mouth?
• What are the symptoms of dry mouth?
• Why is dry mouth a problem?
• How is dry mouth treated?
• Patient Discussions: Dry Mouth - Describe Your Experience

We all need saliva to moisten and cleanse our mouths and digest food. Saliva also prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth. When we don't produce enough saliva, our mouth gets dry and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for dry mouth.

What causes dry mouth?

There are several causes of dry mouth. These include:

• Side effect of certain medications. Dry mouth is a common side effect of many prescription and nonprescription drugs, including drugs used to treat depression, anxiety, pain, allergies and colds (antihistamines and decongestants), obesity, acne, epilepsy, hypertension (diuretics), diarrhea, nausea, psychotic disorders, urinary incontinence, asthma (certain bronchodilators), and Parkinson's disease. Dry mouth is also a side effect of muscle relaxants and sedatives.
• Side effect of certain diseases and infections. Dry mouth can be a side effect of medical conditions, including Sjogren's syndrome, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, anemia, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and mumps.
• Side effect of certain medical treatments. Damage to the salivary glands, the glands that produce saliva, for example, from radiation to the head and neck and chemotherapy treatments for cancer, can reduce the amount of saliva produced.
• Nerve damage. Dry mouth can be a result of nerve damage to the head and neck area from an injury or surgery.
• Dehydration. Conditions that lead to dehydration, such as fever, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, and burns can cause dry mouth.
• Surgical removal of the salivary glands.
• Lifestyle. Smoking or chewing tobacco can affect saliva production and aggravate dry mouth. Continuously breathing with your mouth open can also contribute to the problem.

What are the symptoms of dry mouth?

Common symptoms of dry mouth include:

• A sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
• Frequent thirst
• Sores in the mouth; sores or split skin at the corners of the mouth; cracked lips
• A dry feeling in the throat
• A burning or tingling sensation in the mouth and especially on the tongue
• A dry, red, raw tongue
• Problems speaking or difficulty tasting, chewing and swallowing
• Hoarseness, dry nasal passages, sore throat
• Bad breath

Dry Mouth - Describe Your Experience

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Please describe your experience with dry mouth.

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