Your saliva plays a vital role in your mouth’s function by acting as a cleanser, fighting tooth decay, helping you to break down and swallow food, and by keeping your mouth moist.1
Dry mouth (known medically as ‘Xerostomia’) is a medical condition that affects the production of saliva, causing your mouth to feel dry.1 This is when the salivary glands in your mouth do not produce enough saliva, which means you do not have enough fluid in your body to produce the saliva that you need.2
Having a dry mouth may not be anything serious; it could be due to dehydration, or it is also common for your mouth to become dry if you are feeling nervous 2,3. However, if you’ve noticed persistent dry mouth signs and symptoms, you may need additional relief.
Dry mouth can be uncomfortable with symptoms including;
• A burning sensation or soreness in your mouth
• Cracked or dry lips
• Split skin at the corners of your mouth
• Bad breath
• An altered sense of taste
• Mouth infections (oral thrush)
• Tooth decay
• Difficulty speaking, eating or swallowing 2,4
Dry mouth is prevalent in up to 46% of the population 5, with an increase shown in the elderly population, with approximately 20% of the ageing population suffering from dry mouth.4 While it is not a function of age, dry mouth is related to medications that are commonly prescribed to this population and therefore cause Xerostomia as a side effect.4
There are simple measures you can take to relieve the symptoms of dry mouth. It is recommended to;
• Drink plenty of water. Take frequent sips during the day, and as dry mouth is worse at night, ensure having a glass of water by your bed.
• Frequently suck on ice cubes or lollies.
• Avoid smoking
• Limit drinking lots of alcohol
• Reduce caffeine intake as caffeine can make your mouth drier
• Avoid sugary or acidic foods and drinks because they increase your risk of tooth decay 2,6
If these do not help relieve your dry mouth, you should speak to your GP or pharmacist. While dry mouth is not a ‘disease’, it is important to note that it may be a symptom of various medical conditions, a side effect of radiation to the head and neck, or a side effect of a wide variety of medications 7.
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1. Dental Health. Available: https://www.dentalhealth.org/dry-mouth. [Accessed March 2022]
2. NHS. Available: Dry mouth – Illnesses & conditions | NHS inform. [Accessed March 2022]
3. NHS. Available: Dry mouth – NHS (www.nhs.uk). [Accessed March 2022]
4. Oral Cancer Foundation. Available at: https://oralcancerfoundation.org/complications/xerostomia/ [Accessed March 2022]
5. Villa et al. Diagnosis and Management of Xerostomia and Hyposalivation. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4278738/. [Accessed March
2022]
6. Mayo Clinic. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-mouth/expertanswers/dry-mouth/faq20058424#:~:text=Limit%20your%20caffeine%20intake%20because,Sip%20water%20regularly. [Accessed March 2022]
7. R Ettinger. Review: Xerostomia: A Symptom which acts like a Disease. Age and Ageing 1996;25:409-412.
