4 Causes of Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is more than just uncomfortable – it can even cause bad breath! It can also be a sign that something more serious is going on. Here are some of the most common causes of dry mouth, which can manifest in dry lips, tongue, throat or a combination of the three.

Prescriptions or Medicine

Dry mouth is a very common side effect to many drugs currently on the market. Of the types of drugs that commonly considered to be causes of dry mouth, most are used to treat: allergies, pain, anxiety, depression, acne, and several other conditions. Some types of radiation and chemotherapy can also hamper saliva production. Talk to with your dentist during you next dental exams to see if the prescriptions you are taking have side affects that can cause dry mouth.

Diabetes

Both types of diabetes can increase the presence of dry mouth. It is important that diabetes is controlled to reduce the effect it has on dry mouth.

Smoking

Smoking cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco can aggravate dry mouth by reducing saliva production. Also, breathing thru your mouth (which happens when smoking) can make the problem worse as more of the body’s moisture is lost through the mouth than breathing through the nose.

Dehydration

When the body is dehydrated, one of the first things you notice is that rough sticky feeling at the back of your throat. Try drinking water, fruit juice or other non-carbonated beverages to treat this kind of dry mouth, taking care to avoid caffeine as that can make it worse.

Dry mouth and the accompanying bad breath can be a real pain! No matter if the cause is from smoking, a side effect of medicine or an illness it can really affect your quality of life. If rehydration and lifestyle changes do not solve the issue, please reach out to Indy Dental Solutions or your dentist for a professional consultation.