Why do you have a dry mouth? Symptoms and causes of dry mouth

Dry mouth, also called dry mouth, can be a sign of the presence of even serious pathologies, so it should never be underestimated

Our mouth can tell us a lot about our state of health: some anomalies that occur in the oral cavity, in fact, can be indicators of more serious problems localized in other parts of the body. It is therefore necessary to pay close attention to symptoms such as, for example, dry mouth – a condition also called xerostomia: even if it is a rather common symptom, it should never be ignored.

The xerostomia it occurs when the salivary glands in the mouth do not produce enough saliva to keep the oral cavity well hydrated and moist. This results in a feeling of dryness in the mouth or throat, which can lead to other symptoms as well – such as bad breath, chapped lips, burning in the throat.

Saliva is essential for the health of our mouth and for the proper functioning of the digestive system: it moistens the food we put in the mouth and, with the help of the teeth, breaks it down into small pieces, starting a first phase of digestion. In addition, it plays an important role in protecting the mouth from the risk of tooth decay and gum disease by neutralizing the action of bacteria.

Dry mouth is not in itself a serious medical condition. In fact, it is often connected to aging, smoking, the use of certain drugs or breathing difficulties that force us to breathe with the mouth and not with the nose (for example, during the night, when we snore with our mouth open). However, this condition can also be a sign of more serious diseases – such as diabetes, HIV, Alzheimer’s.

Why does “dry mouth” come?

The first cause of dryness of the oral cavity is certainly the dehydration, which occurs when our body suddenly loses too much fluids: this can happen following episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, excessive sweating or blood loss. If we are dehydrated, the salivary glands will not produce sufficient amounts of saliva and we will experience dryness in the mouth. (Read also: These Unexpected Foods Prevent and Counter Dehydration)

As we said, too the use of certain medications it can cause dry mouth: among these we mention antidepressant and antidiarrheal drugs, antihistamines, drugs used for the treatment of hypertension or cancers. If you are taking these medications and experience dry mouth, it is best to discuss this with your doctor.

Conditions of stress or particular anxiety can contribute to dry mouth: when we are tense or nervous, in fact, our body produces greater quantities of cortisol (the stress hormone) which changes the composition of our saliva, making the mouth drier. This is why when we are in love or have an important job interview our mouth is as dry as a desert!

Finally, among the causes of dry mouth we mention i breathing problems: Breathing through the mouth and not through the nose causes the saliva to evaporate inside the mouth. This also happens when we sleep with our mouths open or snore.

Clinical causes of dry mouth

As we have said, dry mouth can also be a sign of more serious health problems, and therefore it is not a condition that should be underestimated – especially if it occurs suddenly and without any of the reasons listed above to justify its presence. Let’s see which are the most common pathologies related to dry mouth:

• Diabetes. The increase in blood sugar levels indeed affects saliva production and thus lead to a dry mouth condition. The dryness related to diabetes can also be caused by the use of some drugs designed to counter this disease. (Also Read: Diabetes: The Signs In Your Mouth That Can Be A Symptom Of High Blood Sugar And High Blood Sugar)
• Oral candida. Also called thrushoral candida is an infection caused by the presence of the fungus in the mouth Candida albicans which causes the appearance of a whitish patina on the back of the tongue and on the inner walls of the cheeks, as well as inflammation of the salivary glands, thus inhibiting the production of saliva in the mouth.
• Cystic fibrosis. It is a genetic disease that damages the digestive and respiratory systems and can also negatively affect the functioning of the glands that produce saliva. Again, dry mouth can be further favored by taking medications used to fight the disease.
• Autoimmune Diseases. Diseases such as AIDS or syndrome in Sjögrenin which the immune system attacks the body, often lead to inflammation of the salivary glands and, consequently, to dry mouth.
• Alzheimer’s disease. People with dementia and Alzheimer’s may find it difficult to stay hydrated and this could result in excessive dry mouth.

In short, in the presence of recurrent dry mouth, it is better to contact our family doctor, who will be able to advise us on the clinical tests to be carried out if necessary to investigate the hidden causes behind poor salivation inside our mouth.

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