Why Is Your Mouth So Dry? Common Causes and Treatment Options

Have you ever had that feeling in your mouth like you've eaten too many crackers and not sipped enough water? We've all probably experienced that on occasion, but if you have the sensation of oral dryness, also known as xerostomia, chronic dry mouth might be the issue.

Let's take a deeper look into what that means and what you can do to fix it.

What Is Dry Mouth and Is It Serious?

Dry mouth is essentially what it sounds like: The inside of your mouth feels papery and parched from decreased salivary flow, also known as salivary gland hypofunction. This can result in a variety of oral health implications, not to mention bad breath.¹

Dry mouth is a common health problem that can result from a few factors. Addressing the root causes of dry mouth can be fairly simple after discussing your xerostomia and health history with your dentist.²

If left untreated, dry mouth can impact the health of your teeth. It could lead to problems like dental caries, plaque accumulation, gingivitis and/or periodontitis.¹ That's why quick-fix solutions like chewing gum can help, but they aren't a substitute for seeing your dental professional.²

Common Causes of Dry Mouth

Xerostomia is caused when the glands in your mouth don't make enough saliva to keep your mouth wet.² The most common causes for dry mouth are:¹

• Side effects of medications. This includes urologic meds, psycholeptics and antidepressants, as well as antihistamines (for allergy or asthma), decongestants, pain medications, diuretics, antihypertensive medications, muscle relaxants and medical cannabis.
• Side effects of treatments. This includes radiation for head and neck cancers or chemotherapy.
• Aging. Xerostomia is believed to impact an estimated 30% of patients older than 65 years, and up to 40% of patients older than 80 years. While it could be due to saliva production as individuals age, it's also likely that seniors are on more medications that can contribute to this oral health issue.
• Medical conditions. This includes rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, stroke, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's disease and others.
• Smoking or chewing tobacco. Dry mouth can result from the use of tobacco products.

Dry Mouth Symptoms

Common symptoms associated with dry mouth include:³

• Feeling of a “cottony mouth"
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Sore throat
• Burning sensation or tingling on the tongue
• Dry, cracked lips¹
• Hoarseness when you talk

Diagnosing Dry Mouth

If you think you may have chronic dry mouth, the first step is to make an appointment with your dentist. Bring a list of the medications and over-the-counter drugs you're taking. This can help your dental professional learn more about the potential causes of your dry mouth, especially if they are medication-related.²

Your dentist will do an exam to determine how well your saliva glands are operating. They may need to run some tests to fully diagnose your dry mouth or determine the root cause of the issue. This could include a salivary flow rate measurement, a minor salivary gland biopsy and blood and microbial tests.¹

Most likely, your dentist will suggest lifestyle modifications and/or medication swaps to address your xerostomia first.¹

How to Address Dry Mouth

There are a few things to try to address your dry mouth concerns, from lifestyle changes to professional dental cleanings to over-the-counter rinses. Here are some products and treatments often found at your local pharmacy that can help:¹

• Saliva rinse. This over-the-counter product can help increase and maintain saliva production.
• Salivary stimulants. Your dentist might recommend a prescription-strength salivary stimulant to treat dry mouth, such as oral sialogogues like pilocarpine and cevimeline hydrochloride.
• Chewing gum or lozenges. Use those specifically designed to stimulate saliva.⁴
• Toothpaste. Brushing with a toothpaste that's designed to help people who suffer from xerostomia could help with dry mouth symptoms. Talk to your dentist about their recommendations.
• Topical prescription-strength fluoride gel. Use daily to help prevent dental decay.
• Acupuncture. If you still have severe dry mouth symptoms, consider acupuncture. Some studies have shown that this alternative treatment was helpful in activating the part of the brain that makes saliva.⁴

Home Treatments for Dry Mouth

Here are some ways you can treat dry mouth at home:²

• Avoid caffeine. Caffeinated beverages can contribute to dry mouth.
• Reduce alcohol use. The feeling of a “cottony mouth" the morning after a night of imbibing isn't in your head. Drinking alcohol is dehydrating in general, though it's not necessarily the root cause of your dry mouth.
• Change up your medications. If you're taking over-the-counter meds that could be causing dry mouth as a side effect (like antihistamines, decongestants and some pain medications) or a prescription medication that's the root of your dry mouth, talk to your doctor about alternative options.
• Take your oral care routine up a few notches. We all slack on our oral hygiene at times when we're tired or feeling rushed. But if you're noticing dry mouth symptoms, see if you can fix that "cottony-mouth" feeling with a better oral care routine. Make sure you're getting in between every tooth along the gums with flossing and brushing using a fluoride toothpaste.¹ Remember to scrape and or brush the tongue, too. Follow with an alcohol-free mouthwash⁵ and swish all over for at least 60 seconds.
• Chew sugarless gum. It can help generate saliva and be a short-term fix for dry mouth. Stash packs in your bag, car and office desk.
• Suck on lozenges. Consider lozenges to generate saliva. Natural ones with ingredients like slippery elm and/or marshmallow root might help. These herbs contain mucilage, a substance that helps coat the tongue, mouth and throat and keeps moisture locked in your mouth.⁴
• Ditch the sweets. Excess sugar can contribute to dry mouth symptoms.¹
• Add moisture. Yes, drinking water and non-caffeinated beverages helps, but we're talking about adding moisture to the air. A humidifier or vaporizer can help if dry conditions in your home and sleeping environment are drying out your mouth.⁵

How to Prevent Dry Mouth

Preventing xerostomia can be a multifaceted process. Here are a few practices to help prevent dry mouth:

• Avoid medicine with certain ingredients.²
• Avoid salty and dry foods. Chips and crackers can further dry out the mouth.⁵
• Reduce acidic foods and drinks in your diet.⁵
• Quit smoking.²
• Talk to your dentist about over-the-counter dental care products designed for dry mouth symptoms.¹
• Stay hydrated.²
• Get your teeth cleaned regularly.
• Improve your oral hygiene routine. Floss daily.¹
• Practice breathing through your nose.⁵
• Use a cool-mist humidifier.⁵

You can prevent dry mouth while sleeping by following a good evening oral hygiene practice and by running a humidifier throughout the night. You can try to breathe through your nose to help reduce dry mouth at night.⁵

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Regular dental checkups are important to help prevent, identify and treat dental problems before they become more advanced. The CareCredit credit card can help you pay for dental exams, cosmetic dental procedures and other costs that insurance doesn't cover — to help you keep your pearly whites bright and healthy.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist near you that accepts CareCredit. Make the most of your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App. You can find a provider on the go, manage your CareCredit account and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

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Author Bio

Diana Kelly Levey is a freelance journalist, content marketing writer and author with more than 15 years of experience covering health and wellness.