Dry mouth seems more like an annoying nuisance than a symptom of a more serious health problem. Your body produces saliva in your mouth for a reason.
"The bacteria that cause tooth decay and periodontal disease thrive in a dry environment," says Matt Messina, a Cleveland-based dentist and spokesman for the American Dental Association.
As the Prevention portal writes, although tooth decay has an unpleasant smell, gum disease is a bigger cause for concern. Some research shows that periodontitis can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
If that doesn't sound gross enough, your saliva is alkaline and helps protect your teeth from corrosion caused by food acids, Dr. Mesina says.
A sore throat, problems with swallowing and speaking, and a burning sensation in the mouth are also unpleasant and painful symptoms of dry mouth.
For all these reasons, dry mouth is a dangerous condition that can lead to many other problems if left untreated.
Here are five common causes of dry mouth - and how to solve them.
Prescription drugs
Dr. Mesina emphasizes that dry mouth is a side effect of over 600 medications. This includes popular drug groups such as stomach, blood pressure, and psychiatric medications.
Aging
"As we age, our salivary glands don't work as well as they should," says Dr. Messina. "That's why we produce less saliva." Add dry mouth to the list of unwanted effects of aging.
Dehydration
A small change in the state of water in the body leads to difficulties in the production of saliva.
Breathing problems
Problems with the sinuses or the septum—the septum that separates the left nostril from the right—can make it difficult to breathe through the nose, says Dr. Mesina.
"Breathing through the mouth can certainly result in dry mouth," he explains.
How to treat dry mouth?
Dr. Mesina advises to start by drinking more water. You need twice as much water if you have a dry mouth after drinking alcohol.
Chewing sugar-free gum can stimulate saliva production. If water and chewing gum don't help, Dr. Burges advises trying some of the mouthwashes and toothpastes that many people with dry mouth find effective.
"You can buy such products over the counter, and they can help stimulate saliva production."
Saliva-replacing pastes or sprays also help many people, he adds. But most of them are only effective during the day.
If your prescribed medications cause dry mouth, talk to your doctor about another option that works for the problem without causing dry mouth.
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