About this topic
Xerostomia is also known as dry mouth. It happens when there is not the right amount of saliva in your mouth. Saliva is also called spit. Some people have no spit at all. Spit makes it easier to chew and swallow your food. It also helps to break down food. It may help you avoid mouth disease. It protects your teeth from decay. Xerostomia is not an illness, but a sign of some other problem.
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What are the causes?
- Certain health problems,such as:
- Sj Άgren disease
- Fluid loss
- Long-term sinus stuffiness
- Poorly-treated blood sugar
- HIV
- Alzheimer disease
- Stroke
- Radiation or chemo
- Some drugs used to treat depression, allergies, anxiety, or appetite
- Injury to the glands, ducts, and nerves that make spit
- Surgery to the head and neck
- Use of beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol)
- Drinks with caffeine like coffee, tea, and soda
- Worry or feelings of fear
- Low mood or sadness that lasts
- Aging
- Snoring
- Smoking
What can make this more likely to happen?
- Being older since older people tend to take more drugs that can cause dry mouth
- Having cancer treatment such as chemo or radiation to the neck and head
- Being a smoker
What are the main signs?
- Mouth and throat dryness and feeling thirsty
- Thick or stringy spit
- Cracked lips or sores at corners of mouth
- Trouble talking, tasting, chewing, or swallowing
- Changed sense of taste
- Bad breath
- Dryness, roughness, burning, or tingling of the tongue
- Sore throat and feeling hoarse
- Mouth infection
- More tooth decay, gum disease, or plaque
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
Your doctor will take your history and will do an exam. The doctor will look at your mouth. The doctor may order:
- Test to measure flow of your spit
- Blood tests
- Scans to look at glands that make spit
- Tissue sample from glands that make spit
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
The goal of treatment is to treat your signs and get you to make more spit. These might include:
- Oral rinses or moisturizers
- Spit substitutes ’ May be in the form of gels, rinses, sprays, swabs, and tablets
- Sugarless candy, gum, and drinks
- Sipping more water during the day and at meals
- Fluoride treatments to avoid cavities
Your doctor will also want to teach you ways to avoid tooth decay.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to:
- Treat dry mouth
- Treat other causes
What problems could happen?
- Trouble speaking
- Trouble chewing or swallowing
- Problems tasting food
- Bad breath
- Sore throat or hoarse voice
- Tooth decay or gum disease
- Mouth infection
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Talk to your doctor about whether or not there are other drug choices if you are currently taking a drug that can cause dry mouth.
- Take good care of your mouth and teeth.
- Practice good mouth care. Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste. Floss your teeth each day. Do not use mouthwashes with alcohol in them.
- Get exams to check your teeth twice a year. Talk to your dentist about proper mouth care.
- Try to add more moisture to your mouth.
- Chew gum or suck on candies that do not have sugar in them.
- Sip water or drinks that do not have sugar in them.
- Suck on ice chips.
- Breathe through your nose. Quit smoking if you are a smoker.
- Use a humidifier to add mist to the air.
- Change your diet.
- Do not eat dry and salty foods.
- Avoid spicy foods as they can irritate the mouth.
- Do not eat foods that could cause cavities. These are foods high in sugar and acid, and candy.
- Do not drink beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol).
- Limit drinks that have caffeine.
Where can I learn more?
Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm254273.htm
Mouth Healthy
http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/dry-mouth
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/DryMouth/
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you.
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