What Causes Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth can happen to everyone if you are nervous or it can be a side effect of a medication you are taking, but Artistic Touch Dentist wants you to know that if you have constant dry mouth then there might be something wrong. WebMD shares a number of reasons that can cause dry mouth, such as:

• Side effects of some medicines — more than 400 medicines can cause the salivary glands to make less saliva. Medicines for high blood pressure and depression often cause dry mouth
• Disease — some diseases affect the salivary glands. Sjögren’s Syndrome, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease can all cause dry mouth
• Radiation therapy — the salivary glands can be damaged if they are exposed to radiation during cancer treatment
• Chemotherapy — drugs used to treat cancer can make saliva thicker, causing the mouth to feel dry.
• Nerve damage — injury to the head or neck can damage the nerves that tell salivary glands to make saliva.

The good news is that you can treat dry mouth, but the treatment depends on what is actually causing the problem. Your dentist or physician can help you determine what is causing your dry mouth. However, in the meantime you can sip water or sugarless drinks often, sip on water during meals because this will make chewing and swallowing food easier, and avoid tobacco and alcohol.

If you are experiencing dry mouth then call Artistic Touch Dentistry and schedule an appointment so we can help you fix this problem!