Dry Mouth

In this condition, the salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to moisten your mouth.

Patients with dry mouth syndrome are prone to serious dental problems such as bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease.

To learn more about dry mouth syndrome, keep reading.

Dry mouth is caused by salivary glands in the mouth that don’t produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. The salivary glands may not work well because of:

Medications. Taking medications like over-the-counter drugs can result in dry mouth. Among the types that cause problems are some drugs used to treat high blood pressure and anxiety, depression, as well as some antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, muscle relaxants, and pain medications.

Diseases and Infections. Medical conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, anaemia, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and mumps can cause dry mouth.

Medical Treatments. Damage to the salivary glands can decrease the production of saliva. For example, the damage could arise from radiation to the head and neck, and chemotherapy treatments for cancer.

Dehydration. Fever, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood loss, and burns can cause dry mouth.

Unhealthy lifestyle. Smoking or chewing tobacco can affect the amount of saliva you produce and worsen dry mouth. Breathing through your mouth can also contribute to the problem.