What are the causes of dry mouth and how to treat it?

Dry mouth, also known by the technical name xerostomia, is a very common problem in the population that affects almost everyone from time to time. What are the causes of dry mouth and how to solve this unpleasant problem?

Causes of dry mouth

Dry mouth is either sudden or constant. There can be several causes of sudden dry mouth. Among the most common are fluid deficiency or dehydration, where reduced saliva production is associated with low fluid intake or, on the contrary, increased fluid output.

Really dry mouth all the time can be caused by certain autoimmune diseases affecting the salivary glands, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus erythematosus. Certain medications, smoking, hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause, psychological conditions and finally, certain other diseases such as yeast infections can also be to blame.

Accompanying symptoms of dry mouth

Dry mouth is often accompanied by other symptoms, most commonly a burning sensation in the mouth and on the tongue, dry roof of mouth, difficulty swallowing food or a sticking sensation on the palate.

Other common symptoms of dry mouth include the white tongue, bad breath, hoarseness, dry eyes, inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth, distorted taste perception, bitterness, and a metallic aftertaste in the mouth. A dry mouth may also be associated with increased tooth decay. 

If a dry mouth is a sign of a more serious disease, you may even feel tired or experience headaches and fatigue.

Dry mouth at night

Many people experience dry mouth not only during the day but also at night. During sleep, the mouth may open, drying out the mucous membranes. The good news, however, is that this is a fairly common condition that is usually not associated with any disease. Dehydration can also be the cause of dry mouth in the morning.

How to prevent dry mouth while sleeping?

Are you waking up with dry mouth all the time? One of the very common causes of dry mouth during sleep, apart from dehydration, is snoring. If you have been struggling with snoring for a long time, you should see a doctor or visit a sleep lab to find out what the cause of your snoring is and start the right treatment. 

Dry mouth can also be caused by dry air in the bedroom, in which case you can use natural home remedies for dry mouth at night, such as inhaling steam with eucalyptus and lavender oils. Last but not least, use humidifiers and ventilate the bedroom well before going to bed.

Dry mouth and sore throat

Are you experiencing a very dry mouth accompanied by a sore throat? In this case, it may be an upper respiratory tract infection, most commonly pharyngitis of bacterial or viral origin. The infection is usually accompanied not only by a dry feeling but also by scratching in the throat, pain when speaking, difficulty swallowing or swelling in the throat. In this case, you should treat the underlying cause in order to cure dry mouth. 

Adequate hydration

If dehydration is the cause of dry mouth, sufficient fluid intake is an effective remedy. In general, it is recommended to drink about 2 to 3 litres of fluids per day and to increase fluid intake during physical activity or on warm days.

Use of products that moisten the oral mucosa

The lack of saliva can be addressed with so-called artificial saliva or dry mouth sprays, gels and tablets that moisten the oral cavity and help to produce saliva. These products are usually available over-the-counter in pharmacies.

Sugar-Free Chewing gum & lozenges can help

You can also stop dry mouth by encouraging saliva production by Xylitol containing chewing gums. However, if you have experienced increased tooth decay due to dry mouth, avoid chewing gum and sweets containing sugar.

Learn to breathe through your nose

Air inhaled through the mouth dries out the mucous membranes, leading to dry mouth. If you have this problem, learn to breathe through your nose.

Change the medicines that cause dry mouth

It is reported that dry mouth is a side effect of about 400 medications. If you think it is the medication that is causing your dry mouth, talk to your doctor who can change your treatment.

Preventing dry mouth

While there is no guaranteed way to avoid dry mouth, the following tips reduce the risk of developing the problem.

First and foremost, it's a good idea to avoid alcohol and caffeine. Both caffeine and alcohol cause the body to lose water, which can lead to dry mouth. Experts also advise to stop smoking, since smoking dries out and irritates the oral mucosa. Last but not least, avoid foods with a high sugar content.

Take good care of your oral Hygiene

Brush your teeth and mouth daily, and clean in between your teeth, using a mouth wash that doesn’t contain alcohol can also help. Alcohol containing mouth washes are not recommended as they can be drying.

Using Kamistad mouth wash on daily basis can help support in achieving that objective thanks to its antimicrobial ingredient Chlorhexidine and German Chamomile extract in addition kamistad mouth wash offers protection against tooth decay.

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