Dry Mouth Summary Dry mouth is the feeling that there is not enough saliva in your mouth. Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while – if they are nervous, upset or under stress. But if you have a dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and can lead to serious health problems. Symptoms of dry mouth include A sticky, dry feeling in the mouth Trouble chewing, swallowing, tasting, or speaking A burning feeling in the mouth A dry feeling in the throat Cracked lips A dry, rough tongue Mouth sores An infection in the mouth Dry mouth is not a normal part of aging. Causes include some medicines, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and nerve damage. Salivary gland diseases, Sjogren’s syndrome, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes can also cause dry mouth. Treatment depends on the cause. Things you can do include sipping water, avoiding drinks with caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol, and chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless hard candy. NIH: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Find an Expert American Dental Association American Dental Association National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Xerostomia National Institutes of Health Diagnosis and Tests Correct Diagnosis Provides Relief for Those with Dry Mouth Academy of General Dentistry Start Here Dry Mouth Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Dry Mouth National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Dry Mouth? Don’t Delay Treatment Food and Drug Administration Health Check Tools Dry Mouth DSHI Systems Array Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Dry mouth during cancer treatment Related Issues Dry Mouth or Xerostomia American Society of Clinical Oncology Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (PDQ) National Cancer Institute Genetics Genetics Home Reference: Sjögren syndrome National Library of Medicine Living With Mouth Dryness or Thick Saliva American Cancer Society Journal Articles Dry Mouth Treatments and Therapies Simple Solutions for Treating Dry Mouth Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation Videos and Tutorials What Can I Do about Dry Mouth? National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
