What causes dry mouth?
Dry mouth, or xerostomia refers to a condition in which the salivary glands in your mouth don't make enough saliva to keep your mouth wet.
Dry mouth is often due to the side effect of certain medications or aging issues or as a result of radiation therapy for cancer. Less often, dry mouth may be caused by a condition that directly affects the salivary glands.
What is the purpose of saliva?
Saliva helps prevent tooth decay by neutralizing acids produced by bacteria, limiting bacterial growth and washing away food particles.
Saliva also enhances your ability to taste and makes it easier to chew and swallow.
In addition, enzymes in saliva aid in digestion.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms include:
- Dryness or a feeling of stickiness in your mouth
- Saliva that seems thick and stringy
- Bad breath
- Difficulty chewing, speaking and swallowing
- Dry or sore throat and hoarseness
- Dry or grooved tongue
- A changed sense of taste
- Problems wearing dentures
Treatment
Your treatment depends on the cause of your dry mouth. If your doctor believes medication to be the cause, he or she may adjust your dosage or switch you to another medication that doesn't cause a dry mouth. It may be necessary to moisturize your mouth.
If you have severe dry mouth, your doctor or dentist may prescribe medication that stimulates saliva or prescribes various methods to prevent tooth decay.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-mouth/symptoms-causes/syc-20356048
