Dry mouth

Dry mouth | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Mouth Dry mouth Dry mouth Its normal to occasionally have a dry mouth if youre dehydrated or feeling nervous. A persistently dry mouth can be a sign of an underlying problem though. Contact your dentist or GP 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 youre struggling to eat regularly youre 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 GP can check what the cause might be and recommend treatment for it. What can cause a dry mouth? A dry mouth can happen when the salivary glands in your mouth do not produce enough saliva. This is often the result of dehydration . This means you do not have enough fluid in your body to produce the saliva you need. Its also common for your mouth to become dry if youre feeling anxious or nervous. A dry mouth can sometimes be caused by an underlying problem or medical condition, such as: medication  many different medications can cause a dry mouth including antidepressants , antihistamines and diuretics a blocked nose  breathing through your mouth while you sleep can cause it to dry out diabetes  a lifelong condition that causes a persons blood sugar level to become too high radiotherapy to the head and neck  this can cause the salivary glands to become inflamed (mucositis) Sjgrens syndrome  a condition where the immune system attacks and damages the salivary glands If you contact your dentist or GP, tell them about any other symptoms youre experiencing. Also tell them about any treatments youre having. This will help them work out why your mouth is dry. What problems can a dry mouth cause? Saliva plays an important role in keeping your mouth healthy. If you have a dry mouth, you may experience some other problems, 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 Its important to maintain good oral hygiene if you have a dry mouth. This can reduce the risk of dental problems. You should also see a dentist regularly, so they can identify and treat any problems early on. Treating a dry mouth If your doctor or dentist is able to find out whats causing your dry mouth, treating this may help your symptoms. If medication is suspected as a cause, for example, your doctor may lower your dose or suggest trying a different treatment. Some of the conditions mentioned have specific treatments, like: nasal decongestants for a blocked nose insulin for diabetes Things to try yourself There are things you can do to help relieve your symptoms. Do drink plenty of cold water  take regular sips during the day and 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  youre more likely to get tooth decay if you have a dry mouth Dont do not drink lots of alcohol, caffeine (such as tea and coffee) or fizzy drinks do not eat foods that are acidic (like lemons), spicy, salty or sugary do not smoke do not sleep with dentures in do not use acidic artificial saliva products if you have your own teeth do not stop taking a prescribed medicine without getting medical advice first  even if you think it might be causing your symptoms Saliva substitutes and stimulants If the measures above dont help, your dentist, GP or specialist may suggest using an artificial saliva substitute. An artificial saliva substitute will help keep your mouth moist. This may come in the form of a spray, gel or lozenge. Use it as often as you need to, including before and during meals. If your dry mouth is caused by radiotherapy or Sjgrens syndrome, a medication called pilocarpine may be prescribed. This is taken as a tablet several times a day. It helps to stimulate your salivary glands to produce more saliva. Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 05 December 2023 How can we improve this page? Help us improve NHS inform Thank You Your feedback has been received Dont include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions. Email Address e.g. you@example.com Message Maximum of 500 characters Send feedback Add this page to\n            Info For Me NHS inform About NHS inform Editorial policy Contact us Webchat Give feedback about NHS inform Info for Me tool Terms and conditions Privacy and cookies policy Freedom of information (FOI) Accessibility Other languages and formats  2023 NHS 24  v1.1.1.17852