U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

What do I need to know 

about dry mouth?

Dry mouth is the feeling 

that there is not enough saliva 

in the mouth.

Everyone has a dry mouth 

once in a while—if they are 

nervous, upset or under stress.

But if you have a dry mouth 

all or most of the time, it can be 

uncomfortable and can lead to 

serious health problems. It can 

also be a sign of certain diseases 

and conditions.

Dry mouth...

• can cause difficulties in 

tasting, chewing, swallowing, 

and speaking 

• can increase your chance of 

developing dental decay and 

other infections in the mouth 

• can be caused by certain medications or medical treatments

Dry mouth is not a normal 

part of aging. So if you think 

you have dry mouth, see your 

dentist or physician—there are 

things you can do to get relief.

Symptoms include:

• a sticky, dry feeling in 

the mouth 

• trouble chewing, swallowing, 

tasting, or speaking 

• a burning feeling in 

the mouth

• a dry feeling in the throat

• cracked lips

• a dry, rough tongue

• mouth sores

• an infection in the mouth

The technical term for 

dry mouth is xerostomia 

(ZEER-oh-STOH-mee-ah)
Why is saliva 

so important?

Saliva does more than keep 

the mouth wet. 

• It helps digest food

• It protects teeth from decay 

• It prevents infection by 

controlling bacteria and fungi 

in the mouth

• It makes it possible for you to 

chew and swallow

Without enough saliva you 

can develop tooth decay or other 

infections in the mouth. You also 

might not get the nutrients you 

need if you cannot chew and 

swallow certain foods.

What causes 

dry mouth?

People get dry mouth when 

the glands in the mouth that 

make saliva are not working 

properly. Because of this, there 

might not be enough saliva to 

keep your mouth wet. There are 

several reasons why these glands 

(called salivary glands) might not 

work right.

• Side effects of some 

medicines. More than 400 

medicines can cause the 

salivary glands to make less 

saliva. For example, medicines 

for high blood pressure 

and depression often cause 

dry mouth.

Some people feel they 

have a dry mouth 

even if their salivary 

glands are working 

correctly. People with 

certain disorders, like 

Alzheimer’s disease or 

those who have suffered 

a stroke, may not be 

able to feel wetness in 

their mouth.
• Disease. Some diseases 

affect the salivary glands. For 

example, Sjögren’s syndrome, 

HIV/AIDS, and diabetes can 

all cause dry mouth.

• Radiation therapy. The 

salivary glands can be 

damaged if they are 

exposed to radiation 

during cancer treatment. 

• Chemotherapy. Drugs used 

to treat cancer can make 

saliva thicker, causing the 

mouth to feel dry.

• Nerve Damage. Injury to the 

head or neck can damage 

the nerves that tell salivary 

glands to make saliva. 

What can be done 

about dry mouth?

Dry mouth treatment will 

depend on what is causing the 

problem. If you think you have 

dry mouth, see your dentist or 

physician. He or she can try to 

determine what is causing your 

dry mouth.

• If your dry mouth is caused 

by medicine, your physician 

might change your medicine 

or adjust the dosage.

• If your salivary glands are 

not working right but can still 

produce some saliva, your 

physician or dentist might 

give you a medicine that helps 

the glands work better. 

• Your physician or dentist 

might suggest that you use 

artificial saliva to keep your 

mouth wet.
What can I do?

• Sip water or sugarless 

drinks often.

• Avoid drinks with caffeine, 

such as coffee, tea, and some 

sodas. Caffeine can dry out 

the mouth.

• Sip water or a sugarless drink 

during meals. This will make 

chewing and swallowing 

easier. It may also improve 

the taste of food.

• Chew sugarless gum or suck 

on sugarless hard candy to 

stimulate saliva flow; citrus, 

cinnamon or mint-flavored 

candies are good choices.

• Don’t use tobacco or alcohol. 

They dry out the mouth.

• Be aware that spicy or salty 

foods may cause pain in a 

dry mouth.

• Use a humidifier at night.

Tips for keeping your 

teeth healthy

Remember, if you have dry 

mouth, you need to be extra 

careful to keep your teeth 

healthy. Make sure you:

• Gently brush your teeth at 

least twice a day.

• Floss your teeth every day.

• Use toothpaste with fluoride 

in it. Most toothpastes sold at 

grocery and drug stores have 

fluoride in them. 

• Avoid sticky, sugary foods. 

If you do eat them, brush 

immediately afterwards.

• Visit your dentist for a checkup at least twice a year. Your 

dentist might also suggest you 

use a prescription-strength 

fluoride gel (which is like a 

toothpaste) to help prevent 

dental decay.
For additional copies of 

this publication contact:

National Institute of Dental and 

Craniofacial Research

National Oral Health Information 

Clearinghouse

1 NOHIC Way

Bethesda, MD 20892-3500

Tel: 1-866-232-4528

http://www.nidcr.nih.gov

For information on 

Sjögren’s Syndrome

The main symptoms of Sjögren’s 

syndrome are dry mouth and dry 

eyes. For information about Sjögren’s 

syndrome, contact:

Sjögren’s Syndrome Clinic

National Institute of Dental 

and Craniofacial Research

Building 10, Room 1N113

10 Center Drive MSC 1190

Bethesda, MD 20892-1190

Tel: 301-594-1644

Visit http://www.nidcr.nih.gov

and search for “sjogren’s 

syndrome clinic”

Sjögren’s Syndrome 

Foundation, Inc.

6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 325

Bethesda, MD 20817

Tel: 1-800-475-6473

http://www.sjogrens.org This publication is not 

copyrighted. Make as many 

photocopies as you need.
NIH Publication No. 13-3174

October 2012 

NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®