Does your mouth feel like the Sahara? Perhaps your tongue is like a parched plain. If the atmosphere inside your mouth is frequently arid, you may have xerostomia or dry mouth. Those with this condition don’t produce sufficient saliva to keep their mouth moist and to help facilitate swallowing. Common symptoms of dry mouth include a dry tongue, cracked lips, irritated gums, mouth sores and even bad breath.
Dry mouth typically occurs as a side effect of taking certain medications. There are hundreds of drugs that can cause dry mouth. Here are some other common causes of xerostomia:
• Dehydration
• Diabetes
• Eating disorders
• Hormonal imbalances
• Sleep apnea
• Smoking
Relieve dry mouth by drinking more water, chewing sugar-free gum to promote saliva production and use alcohol-free oral rinses after brushing.
