What to do About Dry Mouth

Dry mouth, or xerostomia (zeer-oh-STOH-mee-ah), happens when your mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva to stay moist. Saliva is essential for a healthy and comfortable mouth. It helps clean your mouth, moistens and softens food, and makes swallowing and digestion easier.

When saliva is lacking, the effects go beyond discomfort. You might notice a dry, sticky feeling, trouble speaking or swallowing, or a change in how things taste. Bad breath is common. Over time, dry mouth can lead to more serious oral health issues like cavities, gum disease, and mouth sores.

What Causes Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth can occur for many reasons. Most often, dry mouth is transient and caused by temporary factors such as nervousness, cigarette smoking, or thirst.

In other situations, dry mouth may be caused by longer lasting factors. Longer-lasting dry mouth is most often caused at least in part by medications that decrease the production of saliva in your mouth.

Medications

• Antihistamines (for allergies)
• Antidepressants
• Bladder-control medications
• Blood pressure medications

Medical Conditions

• Sjögren’s disease: an autoimmune disorder
• Diabetes
• HIV

Medical Treatments

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy, especially to the head or neck
• Immunotherapy

How to Manage Dry Mouth

Managing dry mouth starts with understanding what’s causing it. The right approach depends on whether your symptoms are temporary or ongoing.

Simple Strategies

One of the easiest and most effective strategies is to drink more water. Taking small, frequent sips throughout the day can help keep your mouth moist and comfortable.

Stimulate saliva naturally: Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free hard candies can encourage your mouth to produce more saliva. Look for products with xylitol, a sweetener that also supports oral health.

Avoid triggers: Certain foods and drinks can make dry mouth worse. Try to limit or avoid:

• Alcohol
• Caffeinated beverages (like coffee, tea, and soda)
• Acidic or spicy foods

Products for Dry Mouth

If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, there are many over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription products designed to relieve dry mouth and protect your oral health.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Options

OTC products are widely available and come in various forms (sprays, lozenges, gums, and melts), so you can choose what works best for your routine. Many contain xylitol or other ingredients that help stimulate saliva or coat the mouth for longer-lasting relief.

• Biotene Moisturizing Mouth Spray
• Xylimelts Dry Mouth Melts
• Act Dry Mouth Lozenges
• Cotton Mouth Dry Mouth Melts

Prescription Options

When OTC remedies aren’t enough, your healthcare provider may recommend prescription treatments.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you’re dealing with persistent dry mouth, don’t ignore it, talk to a healthcare provider, especially your dentist. Dentists are often the first to spot signs of dry mouth and its effects on your oral health.

During an exam, your dentist will check for symptoms like a dry, rough tongue or cheeks that appear dull instead of smooth and shiny. They’ll also look for complications linked to dry mouth, such as cavities, gum disease, or mouth sores.

If your dentist suspects an underlying medical issue or if your symptoms are severe, they may refer you to a physician or specialist for further evaluation. This could involve reviewing your medications, testing your saliva production, or checking for conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome or diabetes.

Don’t wait, if dry mouth is affecting your comfort, speech, eating, or dental health, it’s time to get it checked out. Early intervention can prevent more serious problems down the road.