A dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a sensation wherein one does not have enough spit or saliva (the fluid secreted by the salivary glands in the mouth). Typically, dry mouth is a symptom of a condition, not a disorder. In most cases, it is a side effect of a prescription treatment option like decongestants taken for colds or allergies. Read on to learn about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for dry mouth.

Causes
When the salivary glands in your mouth do not make adequate saliva to keep the mouth wet, it causes a dry mouth. There may be several reasons for the glands not working as well as they should. Below are some of them:

• Prescription options
  This includes several over-the-counter alternatives that lead to dry mouth as a common side effect. Some that usually cause this problem are high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety treatment options. Beyond this, muscle relaxants, decongestants, and pain treatments can also be responsible for dry mouth.
• Aging
  Dry mouth is prevalent in older people. Some contributing attributes include inadequate nutrition, some regularly employed treatment options, undergoing long-term health conditions, and changes in the body’s natural ability to process the treatments.
• Cancer therapy
  A typical cancer treatment, chemotherapy also alters the nature and amount of saliva produced. It is usually transient, and the normal saliva flow will return once the treatment completes. Further, radiation therapies to the neck and head may also damage the salivary glands, resulting in a significant decline in saliva production. Sadly this may be temporary or permanent, depending on the area treated and the radiation dose.
• Nerve damage
  A surgery or an injury resulting in nerve damage to the neck or head area may also reduce saliva production.
• Other health conditions
  Some health conditions like a yeast infection in the mouth, stroke, diabetes, autoimmune diseases (like HIV/AIDS or Sjogren’s syndrome), or Alzheimer’s disease can also cause dry mouth. Further breathing with the mouth open or snoring also causes the onset of the condition.

Symptoms
Some common symptoms related to dry mouth are as follows:

• Bad breath
• Taste disorders (dysgeusia)
• Inflammation, lip cracking, and cheilitis
• Oral thrush or fungal infections in the mouth
• Tongue pain, Glossodynia
• Heightened need for water at night
• Frequent gum diseases
• Speaking difficulties
• Spitting and cracking of the inner lining of the lips and cheeks or the oral mucosa
• Tongue ulcers or tongue inflammation
• Plaque increase or tooth decay
• Stringy or sticky saliva
• Sore throat
• Salivary gland infections like Sialadenitis
• Chewing and swallowing problems, especially with crumbly or dry foods
• Denture-related issues like denture sores, keeping dentures in, or tongue touching the mouth’s roof

Diagnosis
In most cases, the dry mouth diagnosis is with a physical examination. Further, the health professional will review your health history and order blood tests and imaging scans for the salivary glands. Beyond this, the following procedures can help with the diagnosis:

• Sialography
  This is a radiographic evaluation of the ducts and the salivary glands that help identify salivary gland masses and stones.
• Biopsy
  The doctor will take a tiny salivary gland tissue sample for biopsy. Usually, health professionals order a biopsy if the eye tests, salivary flow examinations, or blood panel do not help with the diagnosis. Further, if the doctor suspects cancer, they may order a biopsy.
• Sialometry
  This is a straightforward procedure to assess the saliva’s flow rate. For this, the doctor places collection devices onto the saliva glands’ duct opening and simultaneously triggers saliva production with citric acid.

Treatment options
Typically, the treatment depends on the dry mouth causes. The dentist or doctor may:

• Suggest alternatives for the treatments causing dry mouth
  When the healthcare professional believes that the ongoing treatments you are taking are causing dry mouth, they may change the dosage or shift you to an alternative treatment that does not have dry mouth as a side effect.
• Advise products to keep the mouth moisturized
  If no alternative treatment is possible (or is not the reason for dry mouth), the doctor may recommend OTC or prescription mouth rinses, moisturizers, or artificial saliva that lubricates your mouth. Mouthwashes, especially those containing xylitol, are effective treatment options for dry mouth.

However, if you have severe dry mouth, your dentist or doctor may:

• Take measures to protect your teeth and prevent cavities by fitting the fluoride trays you fill with fluoride and wearing them onto your teeth at night. Further, dentists may also recommend chlorhexidine rinses to keep cavities at bay.
• Prescribe options that stimulate saliva, such as cevimeline or pilocarpine.