Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a common condition where the saliva flow in the mouth is reduced, causing a persistent dry feeling. It can be caused by medications, diseases like Sjogren's syndrome or diabetes, cancer treatments like radiation, or aging. Symptoms include dry and cracked lips and mouth, difficulty speaking or swallowing, and a change in taste. Prevention focuses on stimulating saliva flow through staying hydrated, chewing sugarless gum, avoiding smoking and salty foods, and using over-the-counter saliva substitutes or treatments prescribed by a dentist.

1. Information About
Dry Mouth
Syndrome

2. • So much attention is given to serious and life-threatening health
conditions, that much of the time the lesser issues are swept under
the rug and not discussed at all. Dry mouth is one of those
conditions that affects many people in society, yet isn’t really talked
about.
• For many people, having a dry mouth is hardly something to
complain about, let alone seek treatment for, but it can disrupt your
life if it gets out of hand. Most sufferers of dry mouth syndrome
don’t even notice that anything is happening until their flow of
saliva has dropped by half. Taking some time to learn about this
largely inconvenient condition might make your life easier now, or
sometime in the future.

3. What Is Dry Mouth
Syndrome?
• Dry mouth, or dry mouth syndrome is technically known as
“xerostomia” and it basically consists of a feeling that you
don’t have enough saliva in your mouth. The feeling is usually
persistent, and even though it isn’t going to land you on your
back, saliva is important to protect mouth tissue, and prevent
tooth decay and bad breath.

4. Symptoms
• Aside from just the feeling of having a dry mouth, there are several symptoms
you can watch for to determine if you have it or not. Some of the common
symptoms include:
• Cracking at the corners of your mouth and tenderness inside the mouth.
• Food tasting different than normal.
• Waking up more during the night with the need to drink.
• A red look in your mouth and the look of tiny pebbles on your tongue.
• Difficulty speaking clearly.
• Noticing one or more of these symptoms doesn’t guarantee that you have dry
mouth syndrome, but it is a step in that direction.

5. Common Causes
• There are four basic reasons that your saliva flow would be reduced enough
to get dry mouth.
1) Medications – There are more than 400 medications that list dry mouth as a side
effect, and the more medications you take, the more likely you are to have it. Some
over-the-counter medicines like certain beta-blockers, antihistamines, anti-
depressants and diuretics may also contribute to having a dry mouth.
2) Sjogren’s Syndrome & Diabetes - Most people are familiar with diabetes, but
Sjogren’s Syndrome is probably a condition that is unfamiliar. Basically, Sjogren’s
Syndrome consists of a malfunctioning immune system that actually attacks the body’s
own salivary glands and tear ducts, resulting in dry mouth.
With diabetes, the dry mouth is caused by fluid loss from increased urination or
different hormonal and metabolic imbalances.

6. 3) Cancer Treatments - Radiotherapy is a cancer treatment that has the
potential to reduce saliva flow almost completely. It’s widely used on
patients who are suffering from head or neck cancers, and many will
never regain a full saliva flow again.
4) Aging – Decreased saliva flow is one of the natural side effects of
getting older, but the main reason that older people from dry mouth
more often relates to the other main causes. Older people generally
take more medications and they have higher instances of cancer,
diabetes and Sjogren’s Syndrome.

7. Prevention & Treatment
• Whether you suffer from one of the four main causes or not, if
you have a dry mouth on a persistent basis, getting rid of it is
often on the top of your mind.
• The main goal of treating and preventing dry mouth is to
stimulate the flow of saliva. Or at least don’t contribute to
lessening the flow. Some solutions that work well include:
• Sipping water regularly
• Chewing sugarless gum
• Eating foods that require a lot of mastication
• Sucking on the rind of a lemon
• Breathe through your nose as often as possible
• Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste

8. • Visit the dentist for regular cleanings
• Use an over the counter saliva substitute
• Do not smoke
• Avoid overly salty foods
• Decrease caffeine intake
• Chew your food slowly
• Try as many preventative measures as you can, and continue
to look for more that don’t have any other side effects. If you
really want to try and narrow down one individual treatment
that works for you, try one at a time so you’ll know for sure.