17 April 2025

Dry Mouth (Xerostomia): Symptoms, Causes & How Your Dentist Can Help

What Is Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)?

The sensation of not having enough saliva – or “spit” – in the mouth is common, and is rarely caused by anything serious. However, if it seems that your mouth is constantly dry – a condition known as xerostomia – this could indicate an underlying health condition.

Saliva is normally pumped into the mouth from the salivary glands located around the mouth and throat. These glands produce a steady flow of saliva to keep the mouth moist. The flow of saliva normally increases still further during the chewing and swallowing of food.

You might, however, be reading this because you are suddenly experiencing certain classic dry mouth symptoms, such as:

Your saliva feeling thick or stringy

Your tongue tending to stick against the roof of your mouth

Your lips and cheeks often sticking to your gums

- Difficulties with chewing or swallowing (particularly when eating dry foods like biscuits)

Bad breath

If these signs seem familiar, you might be anxious to know about the possible causes, as well as how to treat a dry mouth.

What Causes Dry Mouth?

There are various common dry mouth causes, such as:

The use of certain medications, such as blood pressure medications, antidepressants, antihistamines, decongestants, and sedatives
Health conditions such as diabetes, Sjögren’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, lupus, and more
Dehydration – whether caused by not drinking enough fluid, or medical conditions such as blood loss, kidney failure, or chronic diarrhoea
Sleep-related issues or breathing mostly through the mouth, as can happen if you have a persistently stuffy nose or blocked sinuses
Stress, given how the “flight or fight” response can reduce saliva production
Lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol, and caffeine use.

Risks Associated with Dry Mouth

A persistent dry mouth, or xerostomia, can heighten your risk of health problems such as:

Tooth decay and gum disease, given that saliva helps remove food debris and bacteria
Bad breath, due to the non-removed food particles and bacteria causing odours
Oral infections such as oral thrush, which is a yeast infection in the mouth
Difficulty speaking, eating, and swallowing, as a lack of saliva makes it harder to speak clearly, move food around the mouth, and swallow
Impacts on dentures and dental restorations, as a dry mouth can make it harder to keep dentures in place. It may also shorten the lifespan of restorations due to the greater risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

How Your Dentist Can Help

A dry mouth might not seem to be a “dental problem”, per se. However, there are still a number of things that can be done by a local dentist for your dry mouth – such as:

Assessing the underlying causes of your dry mouth
Recommending saliva substitutes, mouthwashes, or toothpaste
Adjusting your existing dental appliances such as dentures.

Simple Tips for Managing Dry Mouth at Home

As aforementioned, dry mouth does not normally indicate a serious condition, so it is important not to worry too much.

While you wait for a dental appointment, here are some tips for how to treat dry mouth at home:

Keep yourself hydrated. Make it a habit to sip water regularly throughout the day, and not only when you’re thirsty.
Avoid caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol, given that these can further dry out the mouth.
Humidify the air at home, particularly in your sleeping area. You might especially consider this if you suffer from a dry mouth at night.