It is absolutely normal to occasionally have a dry mouth if you’re feeling dehydrated or nervous. But a persistent dry mouth can be a sign of an underlying dental problem. Smilekraft Dentistry’s Dr. Priyank Mathur determines the causes behind xerostomia or dry mouth.
An uncomfortable dry mouth occurs when we don’t produce enough saliva that moistens and cleanses the mouth while processing food, preventing infections and controlling bacteria and fungi. More often than not, people mistake thirst for dry mouth, but the causes differ. In fact, the symptoms of xerostomia include cracked lips, sores in the mouth, a dry red tongue, bad breath, a decreased or altered sense of taste, recurrent mouth infections or difficulty in speaking, eating or swallowing.
In addition, there could be a number of medical reasons leading to this condition:
- Medication:
A number of medicines including antidepressants or over-the-counter drugs can lead to a dry mouth - Diabetes:
A person suffering from Type 2 diabetes is at high-risk of a dry mouth - Sjögren’s syndrome:
An autoimmune disorder, the white blood cells attack the saliva-producing glands in the body.
There are many treatments that can help ease the symptoms of dry mouth, including over-the-counter saliva substitutes. To ease discomfort it is best to visit your dentist who will diagnose and treat this uncommon dental issue.
