Dental Health Dental Conditions What Is Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)? By Shawn Watson Shawn Watson is an orthodontic dental assistant and writer with over 10 years of experience working in the field of dentistry. Learn about our editorial process Shawn Watson Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Sumaya Ibraheem, DDS on July 28, 2020 linkedin Sumaya Ibraheem, DDS, is a general dentist practicing in New York, and a member of the American Dental Association and New York State Dental Association. Learn about our Medical Review Board Sumaya Ibraheem, DDS on July 28, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Dry mouth (xerostomia) occurs when you don't have enough saliva. Your mouth and throat will feel dry and you may have other symptoms, especially related to your teeth. Rarely, dry mouth can lead to mouth sores and inflammation. Medical illnesses, medications, and cancer treatments can cause dry mouth. When no clear medical cause is identified, it may be related to certain lifestyle factors like smoking. Once the cause of dry mouth is found, it can usually be treated. Even if no medical cause is found, the symptom can be managed. Dry Mouth Symptoms Saliva's main job is to clean your mouth by loosening and sweeping away food particles. The fluid acts as a lubricant to protect the sensitive tissues inside your mouth and throat from sores and infections. Saliva also contains enzymes needed to digest food and helps prevent tooth decay by neutralizing acids in your mouth and controlling bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This illustrates why an inadequate amount of saliva can have effects beyond a dry mouth. At first, you may not realize that these other symptoms are, in fact, related to xerostomia. People with dry mouth may also experience: "Sticky" feeling in the mouthThick salivaHalitosis (bad breath)Cracked lips or splits in the skin at the corners of the mouthTrouble chewing or swallowingAn unpleasant taste in the mouthDifficulty tasting foodDecreased appetiteSores or white spots in the mouthA raw or sore tongueDry nasal passagesHoarse voiceIncreased need to drink when eating and swallowing Dry mouth symptoms are usually mild and tend to come and go. In some situations, such as with radiation therapy, dry mouth can be more dramatic and may contribute to food avoidance. Complications Dry mouth contributes to a predisposition for developing cavities, gingivitis (gum disease), and periodontal disease (advanced gum disease). Rarely, oral infections may progress into a tooth abscess. Having dry mouth may also make someone more likely to develop oral thrush (a fungal infection of the mouth). Causes There are several causes of decreased saliva production and, therefore, dry mouth, including: Mouth breathingMedical treatments and procedures such as a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, and radiation therapyHealth conditions (such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Sjögren’s syndrome, depression, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, thyroid disease, and dehydration)Blocked salivary ductsStress and anxietyInjury or trauma to nerves in the mouthSmoking, chewing tobacco, and smokeless tobacco productsDecreased saliva production due to the natural aging processMedications used to treat high blood pressure, depression and bipolar disorder, overactive bladder, and Parkinson's disease While dry mouth isn't the same as dehydration, it can be an early sign of dehydration caused by factors such as sweating, infection, and vomiting. Diagnosis If you have a persistently dry mouth, it's important to find out what's causing it. You can talk to your dentist or doctor about it. You will be asked questions about your symptoms, medical history, medications you take, and any treatments you receive. They will also look at your mouth and throat, examining your tongue, gums, and teeth closely. Systemic issues and those specifically related to the mouth, gums, or teeth will be considered. Know, too, that dentists routinely look for signs of dry mouth when conducting routine dental exams. That is, they may catch signs of xerostomia before you do, including less saliva than expected, ulceration, infection, tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease. The next steps—whether your doctor or dentist will treat or refer you—depend on your preliminary findings. What You Can Expect From Your Dental Exam Diagnostic Tests In general, interventional diagnostic tests are not typically used in the evaluation of dry mouth. However, if your doctor suspects your dry mouth is being caused by an undiagnosed medical condition, you may need more tests. For example, a blood test can help identify conditions that can have dry mouth as a symptom, such as diabetes, thyroid disease, and Sjögren’s syndrome. Treatment Treatment for dry mouth mostly involves managing your symptoms by reducing discomfort, employing preventive strategies, and possibly taking medications. Home and OTC Remedies Keeping your mouth moist is an immediate treatment for dry mouth that you can do on your own. Sipping water regularly or sucking on ice chips throughout the day can help keep your mouth from getting too dry. Chewing gum, hard candies, and lozenges that are sugar-free can coax saliva production. Some products, like ACT dry mouth lozenges and BasicBites are branded for dry mouth because they're soft or contain moisturizing liquid components. When choosing any of these products, keep in mind that you'll want to limit your sugar intake to reduce the risk of cavities. Lip balms and salves can soothe dry and cracked lips. You may want to avoid salty foods, acidic juices, and dry foods, as they can irritate your lips, mouth, and throat. Foods to Avoid if You Have Dry Mouth Lifestyle Strategies Consistent oral hygiene is another strategy for preventing and managing many dental and gum problems, as well as dry mouth. Regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth clears out food particles, helps keep your mouth lubricated, inhibits bacterial growth, and reduces the risk of gum disease. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and caffeine if you have dry mouth. Alcohol is present in many types of mouthwash, which may worsen your symptoms. If you have dry mouth, look for alcohol-free mouthwashes. You may also want to use a humidifier if the air in your home tends to be dry or if you notice your dry mouth is worse in the morning. How to Select Mouthwash Medication If your dry mouth is due to a medication side effect, your doctor may be able to adjust your dosage or change your prescription. Artificial saliva can lubricate your mouth and counteract the effects of dry mouth. Your doctor may prescribe medications such as Evoxac (cevimeline) and Salagen (pilocarpine) to stimulate the production of saliva. A Word From Verywell Dry mouth is relatively common, but you'll need to identify its cause before you can expect to effectively manage it. Your doctor or dentist can figure out why you have developed dry mouth and recommend treatment. There are at-home strategies you can use to manage the symptoms of dry mouth, but if there is a medical cause, you may need other treatments. To control your symptoms and prevent complications, carefully follow your doctor or dentist's recommendations. Even With a Dry Mouth, You Can Still Eat Well During Cancer Treatment Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Dental Association (ADA). Xerostomia (Dry Mouth). Department of Scientific Information, ADA Science Institute. Updated July 9, 2019. Bartels C. Xerostomia. The Oral Cancer Foundation. Updated October 15, 2018 Barnhart MK, Robinson RA, Simms VA, et al. Treatment toxicities and their impact on oral intake following non-surgical management for head and neck cancer: a 3-year longitudinal study. Support Care Cancer. 2018;26(7):2341-2351. doi:10.1007/s00520-018-4076-6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Candida Infections Of The Mouth, Throat, And Esophagus | Fungal Diseases | CDC. National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED). Updated November 13, 2019. V Sankar, N Rhodus, & the AAOM Web Writing Group. Xerostomia. The American Academy of Oral Medicine. Updated October 15, 2015. Rusthen S, Kristoffersen AK, Young A, Galtung HK, Petrovski BÉ, Palm Ø et al. Dysbiotic salivary microbiota in dry mouth and primary Sjögren's syndrome patients. PLoS One. 2019 Jun 18;14(6):e0218319. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218319. V Sankar, N Rhodus & the AAOM Web Writing Group. Dry Mouth. The American Academy of Oral Medicine. Updated October 15, 2015. Additional Reading American Dental Association. Dry Mouth. Mouth Healthy. Updated January 2019. Men K, Geng H, Zhong H, Fan Y, Lin A, Xiao Y. A deep learning model for predicting xerostomia due to radiotherapy for head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma in the RTOG 0522 clinical trial. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2019 Jun 12. pii: S0360-3016(19)30834-X. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.06.009. National Institutes of Health. Dry Mouth. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Updated January 2019.