Dry Mouth Syndrome – What to Do When Your Mouth Feels Like a Desert

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, not only feels uncomfortable but puts your teeth at risk as well.  One of the roles of saliva is to keep teeth rinsed clean and when it is lacking your risk of developing cavities can increase dramatically.

Patients who come to us complaining of a dry mouth are usually older adults so it is possible that saliva may simply decrease as we age.  However, there are other potential causes as well:

• Medications- dry mouth is a common side effect of many prescribed medications
• Diabetes – frequent urination, dehydration, and a dry mouth are symptoms of this disease
• Sjogren’s Syndrome – an autoimmune disease that attacks saliva glands

If your mouth is feeling more dry than usual:

Talk to Your Doctor – if you have not had a recent diabetes screening, your doctor may want to arrange a blood sugar test.  They can also go over your medications with you and may have alternative prescriptions to offer.

Check Your Habits - smoking, alcohol, and caffeine all contribute to a dry mouth and eating or drinking sugary foods will double your risk of cavities.

Try These Possible Solutions – be sure to drink 8 glasses of water a day.  Sipping it slowly throughout the day often diminishes the discomfort. Sugarless gum and candies can stimulate saliva and bring relief and there are also prescriptions and products for saliva loss.

See Your Dentist Regularly – get regular dental exams and professional cleanings.  Let us know if your mouth is feeling dry as we often have other solutions or prescription medications that may help.