Dry mouth is defined as a lack of saliva inside the mouth and is usually a symptom of another health problem. Although a dry mouth may seem like no more than an annoyance at first, lack of saliva can eventually affect digestion and cause tooth decay. A number of different factors can cause dry mouth syndrome, which causes symptoms including dry and cracked lips, bad breath, dry tongue, problems swallowing and ulcers in the mouth.
Smoking and Chewing Tobacco
Dry mouth is a common side effect of tobacco use. Heavy cigarette smokers, as well as individuals who smoke cigars or pipes, often experience dry mouth. Both smoking and chewing tobacco can cause dry mouth by decreasing the amount of saliva produced. The nicotine in tobacco is a vasoconstrictor, which narrows blood vessels in the salivary glands leading to decreased gland function and salivary flow.
Dehydration
Not drinking enough fluids can lead to dehydration and a dry mouth. Vomiting, diarrhea and fever are other conditions that can result in dehydration and cause the symptoms of dry mouth. Profuse sweating, blood loss, burns and kidney failure can also lead to dehydration. Excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeinated beverages is another factor that can lead to dehydration and dry out the mouth.
Underlying Medical Conditions
An injury that causes damage to facial nerves can reduce the amount of saliva the salivary glands produce. Surgery to the head or neck area can also lead to damage of the salivary glands. Other medical problems that can cause dry mouth include a bacterial or viral infection of the salivary glands. Infections like the mumps cause inflammation, which narrows the openings of the glands, thereby decreasing the flow of saliva. Dry mouth can be a symptom of diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, AIDS, cerebral palsy and Sjorgen’s syndrome.
Menopause
Fluctuating hormone levels during menopause can affect the function of the salivary glands. The American Academy of Periodontology points out that low estrogen levels can cause both menopausal and post-menopausal women to experience dry mouth. Other changes in a woman’s mouth during menopause may include altered taste, gums that bleed easily and pain or burning sensations in the gum tissue. The AAP suggests that women consider the use of hormone replacement therapy to help alleviate some of these symptoms. The Life Extension Foundation cites research which links Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder characterized by symptoms of chronic dryness of the eyes and mouth, to estrogen deficiencies in postmenopausal women.
Medications
Dry mouth is a side effect of a wide variety of medications. Muscle relaxants, blood pressure medications, antihistamines, decongestants, certain over-the-counter medicines and drugs prescribed to treat depression and anxiety disorders are just some of the medications that can cause dry mouth. Dry mouth is common in older individuals who use many of these kinds of medications. Doctors can try adjusting the dosage of a drug or prescribe a different medication if the symptom of dry mouth becomes worse or fails to improve. Sometimes, though, a patient must decide if the benefits of taking the medication outweigh the side effect of dry mouth.
Cancer Treatments
According to Mayo Clinic, radiation treatments to the head and neck area can cause damage to salivary glands. When the glands are damaged as the result of radiation treatments, the amount of saliva they produce decreases. In some cases, the effects are only temporary. However, most times, salivary glands do not function normally following exposure to radiation treatments for cancer. Because radiation therapy is cumulative, damage to tissue can be partial or total, and is often permanent. Chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer can also decrease the amount of saliva the salivary glands produce.
