Do you ever experience dry mouth? Here are some useful suggestions for managing it.

Managing dry mouth

Dry mouth—or xerostomia (zero STOW-meuh)—

may be a symptom of a medical condition,

or it may be caused by other factors such

as medications, medical treatments, or certain

habits, like tobacco use.

Dry mouth can occur along with certain medical

conditions. For example, it is a key indication of

Sjögren (SHOW-grin) syndrome, a disorder in which

the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own

moisture-producing glands, including the salivary

glands. This impairment results in dry mouth due to

a lack of saliva. Certain emotional states, such as

depression or anxiety, also can leave you feeling like

your mouth is dry.

A number of medications can cause dry mouth, such

as those used to control allergies, cold symptoms, or

blood pressure, as well as some pain relievers or antidepressants.

Talk to your physician or pharmacist, or

check the information that comes with your medication

to see if dry mouth is a possible side effect. Some

medical treatments, like head and neck radiation, can

affect the salivary glands and reduce the flow of saliva.

There are personal habits, like mouth breathing,

drinking alcohol, or using tobacco products, that can

dry your mouth as well.

THE ROLE OF SALIVA

Sometimes you’ll feel like your mouth is dry, even when

you are secreting saliva. In other cases, though, you’ll

notice a decrease in the flow of saliva along with dry

mouth. Saliva is important for a number of reasons.

For example, saliva cleanses the mouth, it helps you

chew and swallow food, and it even helps you speak.

In addition to making it difficult to chew, swallow, or

speak,a low saliva flow can cause the following:

•          dry, cracked lips;

•          a rough tongue;

•          bad breath;

•          infections on the surface of the tongue, cheeks, or gums.

If you are not secreting enough saliva and you

wear dentures, you might notice that your dentures

do not fit properly. Dentures that fit loosely can cause sores.

Saliva also can help protect your teeth from decay.

Your teeth are coated with a film of bacteria called

plaque. When you eat or drink foods that contain sugar,

these bacteria produce acid that can cause tooth decay.

Saliva affects this acid in a way that makes it less

harmful to your teeth. When you don’t have enough

saliva, you might develop cavities.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

If you notice that you are experiencing any of the oral

health changes listed above, speak with your dentist.

He or she can do an examination and will ask you

questions about your symptoms, overall health, and

medical history, including what medications you are

taking.

Once you’ve narrowed down what could be causing

the problem, it will be easier to develop a plan to help

minimize the effects, particularly of low saliva flow.

Your dentist may suggest that you use a special gel or

rinse designed to keep your mouth moist. If you are

developing cavities, your dentist might prescribe a

toothpaste or mouth rinse that has fluoride in it to

help protect your teeth. He or she also might apply a

fluoride gel or give you a fluoride-containing rinse

during your office visit.

Other ways you might find relief include the

following:

•          chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free hard candies to stimulate 

                   salivary flow;

•          sucking on ice chips;

•          sipping water with meals to aid in chewing and swallowing food;

•          using alcohol-free mouth rinse;

•          avoiding carbonated drinks (like soda), caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol;

•          using a lanolin-based lip balm to soothe cracked or dry lips.

Most importantly, take care of your teeth. Good oral

hygiene is especially important for people who have

decreased salivary flow and, therefore, are at increased

risk of tooth decay. Brush twice a day with toothpaste

that contains fluoride. Clean between your teeth once

daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Visit your

dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral

examinations.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2014.11.019

Prepared by the American Dental Association (ADA) Division of Science.

Copyright _ 2015 American Dental Association. Unlike other portions of

JADA, the print and online versions of this page may be reproduced as a

handout for patients without reprint permission from the ADA Publishing

Division. Any other use, copying, or distribution of this material, whether in

printed or electronic form and including the copying and posting of this

material on a website, is strictly prohibited without prior written consent of

the ADA Publishing Division.

“For the Dental Patient” provides general information on dental treatments

to dental patients. It is designed to prompt discussion between dentist

and patient about treatment options and does not substitute for the dentist’s

professional assessment based on the individual patient’s needs and desires.

FOR THE PATIENT

A40 JADA 146(2) http://jada.ada.org February 2015