What causes dry mouth?

Dry mouth can be due to changes in salivary gland function, brought on by:

Medications: Over 400 commonly used drugs can cause the sensation of dry mouth. The main culprits are the anti-hypertensives (for high blood pressure) and anti-depressants. Both are prescribed for millions of Americans. Painkillers, tranquilizers, diuretics, and over-the-counter antihistamines can also decrease saliva flow or quality.

Cancer treatments: Cancer is often treated with radiation or chemotherapeutic drugs. Radiation therapy can permanently damage salivary glands if they are in the field of radiation. Chemotherapy can change the composition of saliva, creating a sensation of dry mouth.

Of the 1.2 million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year, about one-third develop oral complications from their cancer treatment.  These complications can be so debilitating that doctors are forced to use lower, less effective doses of cancer curing drugs, to postpone scheduled treatments, or even discontinue cancer treatment entirely.  Oral complications or disease can also be a source of infections that interfere with cancer therapy or pose a serious threat to patient survival.

For these reasons, cancer patients need a dentist as part of their team of treating healthcare professionals.  Dr. Fox has experience and expertise in helping cancer patients with oral problems, while coordinating dental care with medical care through cooperation with treating oncologists and physicians.

Diseases: Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder whose symptoms include dry mouth and dry eyes. Some Sjögren's patients also have a connective tissue disorder, most commonly Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (also called "Lupus" or "SLE").

Other Conditions: Bone marrow transplants, endocrine disorders, nutritional deficiencies, anxiety, mental stress, and depression can cause a dry mouth.

Dry mouth can be due to changes not related to salivary glands, such as:

Nerve damage: Trauma to the head and neck area from surgery or wounds can damage the nerves that supply sensation to the mouth. While the salivary glands may be left intact, they cannot function normally without the nerves that signal them to produce saliva.

Altered perception: Conditions like menopause, chronic oral yeast infections, Alzheimer's disease, or stroke may change the ability to perceive oral sensations.

Does aging cause dry mouth?

Until recently dry mouth was regarded as a normal part of aging. While the salivary glands that produce saliva do slow down a bit with age, researchers now know that most healthy older adults do not produce significantly less saliva than when they were younger. When older people do experience dry mouth, it is often because they suffer from diseases that cause the condition, or because they take medications that produce dry mouth as a side effect.

Relief for Dry Mouth

Yes, there is hope!  The first step is to consult a dentist with expertise in this area for a comprehensive oral examination.  There are both in office treatments and prescription medications that offer partial or even total relief.

Although there is no single way to treat dry mouth, there are a number of steps you can follow to keep teeth in good health and relieve the sense of dryness. These suggestions will not correct the underlying cause of xerostomia, but may help you feel more comfortable.

If you have xerostomia, these measures will help to preserve your teeth:

	Brush your teeth at least twice a day and use dental floss daily.
	Use a toothpaste with the American Dental Association Seal of Approval that contains fluoride.
	Avoid sticky, sugary foods or brush immediately after eating them.
	See your dentist at least three to four times a year for preventive care, professionally applied prescription fluoride treatments, periodontal maintenance care (if needed) and early treatment of cavities.
	Ask you dentist if you should use a remineralizing solution or prescription-strength topical fluoride preparation at home.

If you have xerostomia, these measures will help to relieve dryness and preserve soft mouth tissues:

	Take frequent sips of water or drinks without sugar. Pause often while speaking to sip some liquid. Avoid caffeine-containing coffee, tea, and soft drinks. Sucking on ice chips can also be helpful.
	Drink frequently while eating. This will make chewing and swallowing easier and may increase the taste of foods. Many patients find sipping skim milk (or other types of milk) a big help.
	Keep a glass of water by your bed for dryness during the night or upon awakening.
	Chew sugarless gum. The chewing may produce more saliva. This should not be regularly relied on, because sugarless gums can cause tooth decay.
	Eat sugarless mints or hard sugarless candies, but let them dissolve in your mouth. Cinnamon and mint are often most effective. But be cautious because sugarless candies or mints CAN cause tooth decay.
	Place a small piece of lemon rind or a cherry pit in your mouth. The sucking action helps stimulate saliva.
	Avoid tobacco and alcohol.  Also avoid commercial mouthwashes, which usually contain alcohol that will dry the mouth further.
	Avoid spicy, salty, and highly acidic foods that may irritate the mouth.
	Ask your dentist about using artificial salivas to help lubricate the mouth.
	Use a humidifier, particularly at night.  Keeping nasal passages and sinuses moist helps promote breathing through the nose.  If nasal passages get too dry and mouth breathing occurs, the mouth will get extremely dry very quickly.