Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a condition in which the salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. If you have dry mouth, your dentist might be concerned about its effects on your oral health. Here’s more information about dry mouth and how to treat it.

Dry Mouth Explained

Symptoms

Xerostomia is more than just a parched feeling in the mouth. When your glands aren’t making enough saliva to keep your mouth moist, you may experience a variety of other symptoms as well. Talk to your doctor or dentist if you regularly notice:

• A rough, grooved texture on your tongue
• Changes in your sense of taste
• Stringy, thick saliva
• Mouth sores or chapped lips
• Problems chewing, swallowing, or speaking
• Difficulty wearing dentures
• Bad breath

Risk Factors

This condition may mean the body isn’t getting enough hydration; however, many other causes can contribute to xerostomia. Risk factors for dry mouth include:

• Medications: Many drugs, including some commonly used to treat depression, anxiety, or high blood pressure, can produce dry mouth as a side effect.
• Cancer treatment: Radiation to the head or neck can damage the salivary glands, and chemotherapy may change the amount and texture of a patient’s saliva.
• Medical Conditions: Certain diseases, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, and Alzheimer’s, can cause a decrease in saliva production.
• Alcohol and Tobacco: People who smoke, chew tobacco, or abuse alcohol are more likely to experience symptoms of dry mouth.
• Recreational Drugs: Dry mouth is a common side effect of several recreational drugs, including marijuana and methamphetamine.

Treatment

To ease the symptoms of dry mouth, limit your consumption of tobacco and alcohol, sip water regularly throughout the day, and use a humidifier to add moisture to your environment. If medication is causing your dry mouth, talk to your doctor about the possibility of adjusting your dosage. Saliva plays an important role in protecting teeth from decay, so patients who have dry mouth may need to see their dentist for cleanings more often than once or twice a year.

If you’re experiencing dry mouth symptoms, contact Kathleen Kujiraoka, DDS, in Kaneohe, HI. Dr. Kujiraoka and her team offer a wide range of general and cosmetic dentistry services for patients of all ages, including teeth whitening, dental implants, crowns, and veneers. Call (808) 235-2121 to schedule a dentist appointment or visit the website to learn more about their treatments.