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Who it helps
Dry mouth, explained.
Dry mouth (xerostomia) happens when your salivary glands do not make enough saliva. It is common, it is uncomfortable, and it can affect your health and quality of life. Here is what causes it and what helps.
Symptoms
Do you recognise these?
Sticky, dry feeling
A dry, sticky or burning mouth and throat.
Trouble speaking
Your tongue sticks, and your voice tires.
Hard to eat
Chewing, swallowing and tasting become difficult.
Waking at night
You wake up thirsty or with a parched mouth.
Mouth health
More cavities, sores, bad breath and denture rubbing.
Causes
Common causes of dry mouth
Most dry mouth is a side effect of something else. Knowing the cause helps you and your care team manage it.
Medication
Many medications can cause dry mouth as a side effect. Check out our list or ask your healthcare professional if your medication may be one of them.
Learn moreC-PAP and sleep apnea
Sleep apnea often leads to mouth breathing, and the constant flow of air from using a CPAP machine can dry out the oral cavity leading to oral health issues.
Learn moreSjögren’s disease
While the effects of Sjögren’s disease can be widespread, inflammation of the salivary glands is common and results in dry mouth, being one of the main symptoms.
Learn moreCancer treatment
Many cancer treatments, including radiation for head and neck cancer, can directly affect the salivary glands, resulting in decreased saliva production and dry mouth.
Learn moreMedical cannabis
Cannabis use decreases saliva production, causing dry mouth and increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Learn moreDiabetes
Diabetes can cause dry mouth due to decreased salivary function caused by high blood sugar in saliva, frequent urination and dehydration, as well as from diabetic medications.
Learn moreNeurological diseases
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, ALS and others can cause dry mouth due to changes in salivary production. Dry mouth is also a side effect of many of the medications used to treat these diseases.
Learn moreDysphagia
Dry mouth can make difficulty swallowing worse. Food cannot move through the mouth and esophagus easily without enough saliva. Medications can increase the incidence of dry mouth.
Learn moreOther causes
Many medical conditions including HIV/AIDS, mast cell activation syndrome and many rare diseases often cause dry mouth. Stroke patients, nursing home residents and others in chronic caregiver settings are also at risk.
Learn more