Do you often feel like the Sahara desert has moved into your mouth? Are you having difficulty swallowing? These are just a few symptoms of dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, a common condition that affects about 10 percent of the general population. Women are more likely than men to experience this problem, which can range from mild to severe.

What causes dry mouth?

The main cause of dry mouth is reduced production of saliva (spit) by the salivary glands. Problems with saliva production frequently affect the elderly and anyone who takes certain over-the-counter or prescription medications. Since older adults typically take several drugs, dry mouth is common in this population.

Medications that can cause dry mouth include antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, diuretics, muscle relaxants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories and urinary incontinence drugs. Other causes may include the following:

• Diabetes (poorly managed)
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Cancer treatments (radiation to the neck and head and chemotherapy)
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Depression and anxiety disorders
• Parkinson’s disease
• Snoring and/or sleeping with your mouth open
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Stroke

Symptoms and consequences of dry mouth

In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, dry mouth may make it difficult to speak and eat. When your mouth is chronically dry, you can experience mouth ulcers, bad breath, sore or burning throat, cracked lips, an inability to taste your food, persistent coughing or a condition called thrush, which is a fungal infection on the tongue.

If dry mouth persists and is not treated, it can lead to malnutrition if you cannot chew your food. Another problem is cavities. When you don’t make enough saliva, bacteria, food particles and acids are not washed away and thus can eventually damage your teeth and cause cavities and other dental problems.

Treatment of dry mouth

To most effectively treat dry mouth, you should get an accurate diagnosis so you and your dentist know which treatment will be the most effective. A diagnosis may be as simple as recognizing a medication that is causing the problem and finding an alternative or it may be more challenging. However, there are actions you can take immediately.

• Drink water throughout the day, including with your meals.
• Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candies.
• Rinse your mouth daily with an alcohol-free antimicrobial mouthwash.
• Talk to your dentist about daily fluoride treatments.
• Consider medications designed to stimulate saliva flow, such as cevimeline or pilocarpine. Your dentist can prescribe these drugs, but do not use them if you have asthma or glaucoma.
• Look for products that contain glycerin, such as artificial saliva and lubricants for the mouth, if you have trouble talking or eating.
• Ask your dentist about topical antifungal medications if you have an oral fungal infection.

Dry mouth can be a nuisance that develops into a significant health problem if you don’t take care of it. If you have symptoms of dry mouth, be sure to consult your dentist about your best treatment options.