by Malavi Sivakanesan • 12 February 2025 • 5 min read
If you have ever experienced a kind of dry, sticky sensation in your mouth that lasts longer than a few days, then it’s more than thirst; it’s called dry mouth. Dry mouth is a common condition that can be caused by many things, such as dehydration, stress, or underlying medications.
Read on to the article to understand what is dry mouth in detail and when to see a dentist if you have this problem.
What Does Dry Mouth Mean?
Dry mouth mostly happens when your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. Saliva keeps your mouth fresh, helps with digestion, and protects your teeth.
When there is a shortage of this saliva in your mouth, then sometimes eating, speaking, and even sleeping can be uncomfortable. It also leads to managing dental hygiene difficult can cause bad breath and even an increased risk of cavities.
Causes of Dry Mouth
Dry mouth can have various causes, some of which may be serious and some not so serious:
- Medicines: Allergy pills, antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, pain relievers, and decongestants can reduce saliva, causing dry mouth.
- Ageing: Dry mouth is common in older adults, mainly due to medications rather than ageing itself.
- Snoring and Mouth Breathing: Breathing through the mouth while sleeping dries out saliva, leading to morning dryness.
- Tobacco and Alcohol Use: Tobacco affects salivary glands, while alcohol dehydrates the body, both causing dry mouth.
- Other Health Conditions: Diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and nerve damage can reduce saliva flow, leading to persistent dryness.
What Helps Dry Mouth?
Some simple preventive methods can help you deal with dry mouth problems. So, here’s what helps dry mouth:
Drink Lots of water
One of the best things for dry mouth is drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Water helps to keep your body properly hydrated, which can stimulate saliva production. To prevent your mouth from getting too dry, you must carry a water bottle along with you and have a sip regularly.
Chewing Sugar-Free Gum
Chewing gum or sucking a candy can help your salivary glands to produce more saliva. Chewing gum also has antibacterial properties that help protect your teeth. However, you must choose only sugar-free options, as sugar can contribute to tooth decay and worsen dry mouth.
Use a Humidifier
A humidifier adds moisture to the air, which is especially useful if you’re sleeping in a dry environment or living in a region with low humidity. The added moisture is especially beneficial for overnight usage when the saliva production naturally decreases.
Mouth Rinses for Dry Mouth
Some mouthwashes are specifically designed to help with dry mouth. These mouth rinses often contain ingredients like xylitol, which stimulates saliva production and helps maintain moisture in the mouth. You should look for the options labelled “moisturizing” or “for dry mouth.”
When To See A Dentist?
It’s quite normal to occasionally have a dry mouth if you are dehydrated, but it’s important to notice when it becomes a more serious issue. If your mouth is still dry after trying home or pharmacy treatments for a few weeks and if you have difficulty chewing, swallowing or talking, you should consult a dentist immediately.
If left untreated, chronic dry mouth can lead to serious oral health problems like gum disease and tooth decay.
So, schedule an appointment today with Complete Smiles to get a thorough review of your dry mouth and other dental issues. Their team is highly specialised and patient-friendly. So you would not have to worry about anything.
Malavi Sivakanesan
Malavi Sivakanesan is the principal dentist and co-founder at Complete Smiles in Harrow, Greater London. She is responsible for establishing the Complete Smiles brand throughout the United Kingdom and Europe and has 5 successful practices under her strong leadership.