Dentists warn about Dry Mouth: Know its meaning, symptoms and treatment

If you have been checking off on your hydration goals daily and yet feel constantly dry in the mouth, then you could likely have dry mouth. Also known as Xerostomia, this is an oral health condition that reduces saliva flow, leading to various symptoms including bad breath, rapid tooth decay and more. Take a look....

How common is Dry Mouth?

According to dentists, the condition is more common than you think. Dry Mouth affects about one in five people, as per the Cleveland Clinic. However, Dr Kourosh Maddahi, a dentist at Dion Health in California shared with NBC Select, that the condition is underdiagnosed as people often mistake it with dehydration. And the longer it remains undiagnosed the more damage it creates for your oral health.




A 2023 report by the American Dental Association stated that dry mouth affects about 10 to 26 per cent of men and 10 to 33 per cent of women. Globally, about 22 per cent of the population is estimated to have xerostomia. The most important part is to not ignore dry mouth as a minor inconvenience.

How would you know if you have dry mouth? Check for these symptoms and follow the treatments mentioned below!

Dry Mouth: What are the common symptoms?

The American Dental Association states that xerostomia can cause the following symptoms:

Burning feeling in the mouth

Problems in chewing, swallowing, tasting or speaking

Altered taste

Dry or sore throat

Mouth Sores

Bad breath

Cracked or peeling lips

If any of these symptoms persist for long, consulting a professional for diagnosis is advised.

Dry Mouth: What are the treatments?

The first step in the treatment is of course consulting with a dentist who can examine the severity of the condition and assess the decay. Most treatments for dry mouth consist of over-the-counter products such as mouthwashes, gels, chewing gums and lozenges.

However, sometimes longer lifestyle changes such as avoiding certain food items and drinks are also required.

Understanding dry mouth or xerostomia

In simple words, dry mouth is a condition that makes the mouth feel dry due to an inadequate amount of saliva.

The most frequent causes of the condition are the use of certain medications. As per a 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, urologic medications, antidepressants and psycholeptics were associated with dry mouth in adults. Additionally, chemotherapy or head and neck cancer radiotherapy can also cause the condition as they directly cause toxicity to salivary glands and oral tissues. And, tobacco and cannabis use can also accelerate it.

Dry mouth can be damaging to oral health because of the changes it causes to the amount and consistency of saliva in the mouth. Saliva is a natural antibiotic in the mouth and protects it from bacteria, acts as a lubricant, and cleans plaque and other particles from teeth. It also remineralises tooth enamel as it is packed with calcium and phosphate, making the teeth resistant to decay.

With a lack of saliva in the mouth, all the symptoms of dry mouth can amp up the progression of the condition and lead to more damage.

It is important to note that the information presented in this article is intended solely for educational purposes and should not be misconstrued as medical advice. It is always advisable to seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional prior to initiating any new medication or treatment regimen.