Dry mouth (xerostomia) is the feeling of reduced saliva or oral dryness. Below is general information on frequent causes, everyday measures that may help, and guidance on when to seek medical assessment. This is general information, not personalized medical advice.
Many factors can reduce saliva production. Common causes include aging, certain prescription or over-the-counter medicines, inadequate fluid intake, breathing through the mouth, tobacco and alcohol use. Medical conditions such as diabetes and Sjögren’s syndrome, head and neck radiotherapy, and some neurological disorders can also affect salivary glands.
Symptoms include a persistent dry or sticky feeling in the mouth, changes in taste, difficulty speaking or chewing, cracked lips or mouth sores, increased tooth decay and bad breath. Long-term saliva reduction raises the risk of dental problems and oral infections, so it should not be ignored.
Try regular hydration and sip water throughout the day, use a room humidifier at night, reduce tobacco and alcohol, and practise good oral hygiene with regular toothbrushing and dental check-ups. Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking sugar-free lozenges can stimulate saliva. Review current medications with your prescribing clinician if you suspect a drug may be contributing.
Mild, short-lived dry mouth may improve with lifestyle changes. Seek medical assessment if dryness is severe, causes trouble chewing or swallowing, oral sores persist, there is unexplained weight loss, or symptoms start suddenly. Primary care physicians and dentists are appropriate first contacts; depending on findings you may be referred to ENT, rheumatology, endocrinology or oncology. If you have breathing or swallowing difficulty, high fever, or rapidly worsening symptoms, seek emergency care.
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