Dry mouth, medically known as xerostomia, occurs when the salivary glands in your mouth don't secrete or produce enough saliva. It is a common condition, affecting 1 in 5 adults and predominantly women. Dry mouth happens to everyone occasionally, especially if you're nervous or under stress, but it can be more frequent in the winter months.
Identification
We need saliva to moisten and clean our mouths, help digest food and contain bacteria. There are three major salivary glands located in your mouth: the parotid gland near your upper teeth, the submandibular gland under the tongue and the sublingual gland on the floor of your mouth. When these glands aren't secreting sufficient saliva, you can develop dry mouth. Dry mouth can also increase the likelihood of developing dental problems. Saliva helps clean food and plaque from your teeth. It also helps control the growth of bacteria, which can damage your teeth's enamel and lead to gum disease.
Symptoms
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, symptoms of dry mouth can include some or all of the following: a sticky, dry feeling in your mouth; trouble chewing, swallowing, or tasting; a burning sensation; a dry feeling in your throat; cracked lips; a dry tongue; mouth sores; or an infection in the mouth.
Considerations
If you find your dry mouth worsens in the winter, there may be a reason for it. According to Robert Kenefick, an associate professor of kinesiology at the University of New Hampshire, one of the triggers for thirst in warmer temperatures is fluid loss due to increased sweat, which in turn stimulates a voluntary fluid intake. In winter, the physiological impetus to drink fluid decreases. "People just don't feel as thirsty when the weather is cold," said Kenefick. "When they don't feel thirsty, they don't drink as much and this can cause dehydration." Dehydration is one of the causes of dry mouth.
Winter colds that leave you stuffed up and unable to breathe through your nose can also exacerbate the problem. Continuous mouth breathing is another cause of dry mouth. If at any time during the winter you start taking a new medication, you may also experience some dry mouth, as over 1800 medications are known to cause the condition. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about potential side-effects for any new medications
Warnings
It's important no to self-diagnose the cause of your dry mouth because it could indicate a more serious condition like Sjogren's syndrome, an auto-immune disorder affecting the glands that produce both tears and saliva. People who suffer from Sjogren's generally experience chronic dry mouth and swollen salivary glands. According to the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation, approximately 4 million Americans live with this disease and nine out of 10 sufferers are women. If you are experiencing frequent dry mouth, consult your physician.
Treatment
MayoClinic.com recommends several lifestyle changes that may help alleviate your dry mouth, including limiting caffeine intake, chewing sugar-free gum, avoiding tobacco use, drinking lots of water, breathing through your nose and adding moisture to the air at night when with a humidifier. If your doctor thinks medication may be the culprit, he or she may adjust the dosage or prescribe another medication that doesn't cause dry mouth. Also, there are prescription drugs available that help stimulate the production of saliva.
