Dry mouth, or ‘xerostomia’ in medical terms, is dry mouth resulting from either reduced saliva flow, or no saliva flow at all. While it is rarely the sign of anything serious, dry mouth can be very unpleasant and uncomfortable for those who suffer from it.⁷
Generally, people can treat episodes of dry mouth by drinking plenty of water, sucking on ice cubes or ice lollies, or chewing sugar-free gum to create more saliva in the mouth. However, if these don’t help, you should speak to your GP or pharmacist who can suggest additional treatments to help keep your mouth moist.⁷
While it is not a ‘disease’, xerostomia may be a symptom of various medical conditions, a side effect of a radiation to the head and neck, or a side effect of a wide variety of medications.²
aMedical Conditions
There are a number of conditions that can cause xerostomia, with the most common disease being Sjögren’s Syndrome, a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that occurs predominantly in people aged 40-60, with women accounting for about 90% of cases.22
Cancer Therapy
Xerostomia is the most common adverse effect associated with radiation therapy to the head and neck.⁸
Some cancer chemotherapeutic drugs can also change the composition and flow of saliva, which may also result in dry mouth.⁸
Medications & Dry Mouth
Xerostomia is a common complaint found often among older adults, affecting approximately 20% of the elderly population. However, xerostomia is not necessarily related to age itself.⁸
There are over 400 drugs commonly taken by the older population that can dry out the mouth.²
Xerostomia
Xerostomia is often a contributing factor for both minor and serious health problems and can be identified by the following problems and symptoms.⁴˒⁸*
Constant sore throat
Burning sensation
Difficulty wearing dentures
Difficulty speaking and swallowing
Hoarseness and/or dry nasal passages
Splitting/cracking inside the mouth
Taste Disorders (dysgeusia)
Painful tongue (glossodynia)
Salivary gland enlargement or infection
Oral infection
Gum disease and tooth loss
*There may be other symptoms/conditions caused by dry mouth that are not included in this list. There may also be other conditions and diseases that can cause these problems or symptoms.