Symptoms and Causes of Mouth Dryness

When an individual’s salivary glands does not function properly, less saliva is produced. Due to the production of less quantity of saliva our mouth feels dry. In medical terms mouth dryness is also known as xerostomia.

Everyone experience dry mouth when we are under stress or nervous. This is quite normal. But if your mouth remains dry for most of the time it will make you feel uneasy and uncomfortable. It may interfere with your daily activities such as swallowing and speaking. It may lead to tooth decay and other infections of mouth.

Some of the symptoms of mouth dryness include cracked lips, dry and tough tongue, difficulty in speaking, chewing, and swallowing. The sufferer may feel dryness in throat and burning sensation in mouth. He may have mouth sores and mouth infections. He may frequently feel thirsty and may have dry nasal passage and bad breath.

Dry mouth results due to several factors. It may be caused due to improper functioning of our salivary glands. Sometimes the salivary glands get damaged due factors like chemotherapy treatments for cancer and radiation therapy for neck and head. Due to the damage caused by such treatments less amount of saliva is produced which results in dry mouth.

Dry mouth is also caused due to some specific medications. These medicines include antidepressants, antiseizures, and diuretics. It is also caused as a side effect of drugs used for treating anxiety, diarrhea, nausea, Parkinson’s disease, obesity, pain, urinary incontinence, acne etc. It may also result as a side effect of health problems such as HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, hypertension, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, mumps, anemia, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and Sjogren’s syndrome.

If an individual’s nerve to the head and neck is damaged due to surgery or an injury, mouth dryness may be caused. It can also occur as a side effect of sedatives and muscle relaxants. Production of saliva is affected by chewing tobacco and smoking which may cause dry mouth. If a person has nasal blockage and continuously breaths with his mouth open then this may also cause dry mouth. If dehydration is caused to a person due to any reason like diarrhea, fever or vomiting, then this may lead to mouth dryness.

Mouth dryness is not a disease in itself. But you must consult a doctor because this problem may be symptom of some other serious health conditions which may require medical treatment.