More than pesky, the condition can cause serious oral health problems
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
If your mouth feels unusually dry, it’s more than just a bother and it’s not just another unpleasant sign of growing older. It could indicate a health problem that’s potentially serious.
Dentist David K. Skeels, with University of Rochester Medical Center explained that the condition happens when the body’s salivary glands make too little saliva.
“You may have a sore throat, trouble swallowing, tasting, or even speaking,” Skeels said. “Dry mouth is not a normal part of aging.”
The symptom of dry mouth could indicate diabetes, Sjogren disease or Parkinson disease, among other health conditions.
Medication could also be to blame for dry mouth, as those indicated for depression, antihistamines, decongestants, pain killers, diuretics and high blood pressure all may contribute to that cotton mouth feeling. Typically, dry mouth associated with a passing illness or seasonal allergies resolves with the other symptoms such as a scratchy throat and itchy, watery eyes.
Treating dry mouth is important because “without enough saliva to rinse away food pieces from your teeth, you can develop tooth decay,” Skeels said.
Depending upon the reason for dry mouth, a visit to the primary care provider, rheumatologist or dental professional can help.
“Your dentist can prescribe a medicine to help your salivary glands work correctly,” he said.
Lifestyle interventions may also play a role in improving dry mouth. Skeels advises patients with dry mouth to drink plenty of water. It’s inadvisable to drink beverages containing sugar or acid, such as soda, juice, sweet tea or lemonade as these are harmful to tooth enamel. Hydrating with water is the best idea.
Patients should also reduce their intake of alcohol, caffeine and tobacco, all of which can dry the mouth.
“Your dentist or healthcare provider also may suggest using artificial saliva and oral rinses,” Skeels said. “These are available at most pharmacies. Some people find it helpful to suck on sugar-free hard candy or gum to stimulate the flow of saliva.”
An autoimmune disease, Sjögren’s syndrome can cause dry mouth and eyes, along with vaginal dryness, dry skin, dry cough and joint pain and stiffness.
“Sjögren’s patients experience dry mouth due to a lack of saliva and have difficulty chewing, swallowing and speaking, which severely hampers quality of life,” Skeels said.
Many people who have a different autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus also experience Sjögren’s and some of the symptoms overlap among the autoimmune diseases. The glands in the patient’s eyes and mouth are affected so that they do not produce enough tears and saliva. The most common age to develop Sjögren’s is older than 40 and as with other autoimmune diseases; women are affected more often than men.
Typically, doctors address the symptoms of Sjögren’s to bring patients relief. It can also help to monitor and address any other autoimmune diseases present.