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List of All Topics
Xerostomia
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Introduction
Signs and symptoms
Why is saliva so important?
Screening and diagnosis
Treatment
Self-care
Although the treatment depends on the cause, dry mouth is often a side effect of medication. Dry mouth may improve with an adjusted dosage or new prescription.
Signs and symptoms
- a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
- trouble chewing, swallowing, tasting, or speaking
- a burning feeling in the mouth
- a dry feeling in the throat
- cracked lips
- a dry, rough tongue
- mouth sores
- an infection in the mouth
Why is saliva so important?
Saliva does more than keep the mouth wet.
- It helps digest food
- It protects teeth from decay
- It prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth
- It makes it possible for you to chew and swallow
Without enough saliva you can develop tooth decay or other infections in the mouth. You also might not get the nutrients you need if you cannot chew and swallow certain foods.
Page TopScreening and diagnosis
To determine if you have dry mouth, your doctor or dentist likely will examine your mouth and review your medical history. Sometimes you'll need blood tests and imaging scans of your salivary glands to identify the cause.
Page TopTreatment
If your doctor believes medication to be the cause, he or she may adjust your dosage or switch you to another medication that doesn't cause a dry mouth. Your doctor may also consider prescribing pilocarpine (Salagen) or cevimeline (Evoxac) to stimulate saliva production.
Page TopSelf-care
When the cause of the problem either can't be determined or can't be resolved, you may be able to improve your saliva flow by sucking on sugar-free hard candy or chewing sugar-free gum. Avoid acidic foods or hard candies - they make saliva acidic, increasing the possibility of tooth decay. It's also a good idea to avoid sugary foods and candies because they increase the risk of tooth decay as well.
If you smoke or chew tobacco, quitting will reduce your dry mouth symptoms.
To protect your teeth, brush with a fluoride toothpaste and visit your dentist regularly. Your doctor or dentist may suggest using prescription fluoride toothpaste. Using a fluoride rinse or brush-on fluoride gel before bedtime also may offer protection.
You might also try the following:
- Sip water regularly.
- Try over-the-counter saliva substitutes.
- Breathe through your nose, not your mouth.
- Add moisture to the air at night with a room humidifier.