Dry mouth

Having a dry mouth now and then is normal, for example when you're dehydrated or feeling nervous. But if your mouth stays dry for a long time, it can point to an underlying problem.

Contact your dentist or doctor if you have a dry mouth and:

• your mouth is still dry after trying home or pharmacy treatments for a few weeks
• you have difficulty chewing, swallowing or talking
• you're struggling to eat regularly
• you're having problems with your sense of taste that are not going away
• your mouth is painful, red, swollen or bleeding
• you have sore white patches in your mouth
• you think a prescribed medicine might be causing your dry mouth
• you have other symptoms, like needing to pee a lot or dry eyes

The doctor can check what the cause might be and recommend treatment for it.

A dry mouth can happen when the salivary glands in your mouth don't make enough saliva.

Often the cause is dehydration. This means there isn't enough fluid in your body to make the saliva you need. It's also common for your mouth to turn dry when you're feeling anxious or nervous.

Sometimes a dry mouth comes from an underlying problem or medical condition, such as:

• medication: many different medicines can cause a dry mouth, including antidepressants, antihistamines and diuretics
• a blocked nose: breathing through your mouth while you sleep can dry it out
• diabetes: a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high
• radiotherapy to the head and neck: this can cause the salivary glands to become inflamed (mucositis)
• Sjögren's disease: a condition where the immune system attacks and damages the salivary glands

If you see your dentist or doctor, tell them about any other symptoms you have. Tell them about any treatments you're having too. This will help them work out why your mouth is dry.

Saliva helps keep your mouth healthy, so when you have a dry mouth, other problems can follow, such as:

• a burning sensation or soreness in your mouth
• dry lips
• bad breath (halitosis)
• a reduced or altered sense of taste
• mouth infections that keep coming back, such as oral thrush
• tooth decay and gum disease
• difficulty speaking, eating or swallowing

If you have a dry mouth, good oral hygiene matters, because it can lower the risk of dental problems. You should also see a dentist regularly. That way any problems can be found and treated early on.

If your doctor or dentist can find out what's causing your dry mouth, treating that cause may ease your symptoms. Say a medicine is suspected, for example. Your doctor may then lower your dose or suggest you try a different treatment.

Some of the conditions mentioned have their own specific treatments, like:

• nasal decongestants for a blocked nose
• insulin for diabetes

There are a few things you can try yourself that may ease your symptoms.

• drink plenty of cold water, and take regular sips during the day. Keep some water by your bed at night
• suck on ice cubes or ice lollies
• sip on cold unsweetened drinks
• chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free sweets
• use lip balm if your lips are also dry
• brush your teeth twice a day and use alcohol-free mouthwash, because you're more likely to get tooth decay if you have a dry mouth

• don't drink lots of alcohol, caffeine (such as tea and coffee) or fizzy drinks
• don't eat foods that are acidic (like lemons), spicy, salty or sugary
• don't smoke
• don't sleep with dentures in
• don't use acidic artificial saliva products if you have your own teeth
• don't stop taking a prescribed medicine without getting medical advice first, even if you think it might be causing your symptoms

If the steps above don't help your dry mouth, your dentist, doctor or specialist may suggest an artificial saliva substitute. It helps keep your mouth moist. You can get it as a spray, gel or lozenge, and you can use it as often as you need, including before and during meals.

If radiotherapy or Sjögren's syndrome is the cause, you may be prescribed a medicine called pilocarpine. You take it as a tablet several times a day. It stimulates your salivary glands to produce more saliva.