Medically referred to as "xerostomia," dry mouth occurs when the mouth does not produce enough saliva to keep it moist. Although many people experience this annoying feeling after a long, hot day without water, it can often be cured with a glass of cold water. Some people, however, experience a continuous dry mouth that cannot be so simply remedied. If you have an extremely dry mouth, it is important to understand the associated causes, dangers and treatments.
Causes
A wide variety of factors could be responsible for an extremely dry mouth. In some cases, the dry mouth is simply a side effect of a medication or medical treatment. For example, several antidepressant medications and chemotherapy treatments often cause dry mouth. An extremely dry mouth could also be a symptom of several medical conditions, such as diabetes, Sjogren's syndrome, anemia, Parkinson's disease and HIV/AIDS. An extremely dry mouth also occurs with dehydration, when the body's hydration levels are extremely deficient.
Symptoms
Along with the extreme dryness in the mouth, xerostomia produces several other bothersome symptoms. Symptoms of a dry mouth often include a sticky or unusually dry feeling in the mouth and throat. The saliva is often thick and sticky and the tongue is generally quite rough. As the dry mouth progresses, you could also experience a sore throat, cracked lips, split skin near the corners of the mouth and bad breath. An extremely dry mouth might also interfere with tasting, chewing, swallowing and speaking.
Dangers
A dry mouth is not simply an annoying and harmless symptom. A lack of saliva can actually be quite dangerous to the overall health of the mouth and teeth as saliva is responsible for killing and washing away harmful bacteria. As these bacteria accumulate inside a dry mouth, they can cause gum infections, mouth sores, periodontal disease, swollen gums, thrush, gingivitis and tooth decay, along with several other conditions.
Prevention
If you taking a medication or have a disease that causes dry mouth, you can take a few precautions to prevent the dry mouth from worsening. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. If your mouth is extremely dry, take small sips of water every 15 to 20 minutes. Avoid tobacco, salty foods and beverages with alcohol and caffeine; these substances only dry the mouth out further. Throughout the day, chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless candy to stimulate saliva production. Brush your teeth at least twice per day and floss at least once per day.
Treatment
If the preventive techniques do not help with the extreme dryness, your physician can recommend additional treatments for an excessively dry mouth. You may need to place artificial saliva drops inside the mouth throughout the day to combat the dryness. Oral moisturizers are also available in spray and gel form. In severe cases, prescription medications can also help promote the production of saliva.
