Dry mouth

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Common causes include:

• dehydration, eg, if you don't drink enough water, sweat a lot or are sick
• side effects of medicines such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, antihistamines, decongestants or diuretics
• cannabis use
• breathing through your mouth at night
• medical conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome, sarcoidosis, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease or other conditions that affect your salivary glands
• psychological causes such as anxiety or depression
• cancer treatment such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy. 

Common symptoms of dry mouth include:

• feeling a sticky dryness in your mouth
• needing frequent sips of water, particularly when speaking
• difficulty speaking, eating and swallowing
• thick or stringy saliva
• a dry or sore tongue
• bad breath (halitosis)
• sores in and around your mouth
• changes in your taste 
• a burning sensation in your mouth.

Ongoing dry mouth can lead to complications such as:

• increased tooth decay, gingivitis (gum inflammation) or periodontal disease (gum disease)
• oral thrush
• making wearing dentures uncomfortable
• bacterial infections of your salivary glands.

Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and also about any other conditions or factors that could be causing your dry mouth. They may also check your mouth and see if you have any complications such as sores, tooth decay or oral thrush.

Usually no tests are needed, unless your doctor wants to rule out other conditions. 

Dry mouth can usually be treated at home with self-care measures or over-the-counter medicines from your pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist about treatments.

These may include:

• gels
• sprays
• tablets or lozenges. 

If your mouth is still dry after a few weeks of trying self-care or pharmacy treatment, see your doctor as there may be an underlying cause. 

Treatment aims to remove the underlying cause of your dry mouth, eg, if your doctor thinks your medicine is causing your dry mouth, they will review your medicines and may reduce the dose.

If your dry mouth is caused by a medical condition, the treatment will focus on that. Your doctor may also prescribe medicine to stimulate production of your saliva. 

Care for dry mouth

There are  a number of self-help measures you can try.

• Take frequent sips of water or suck ice cubes to moisten your mouth.
• Keep water by your bed at night.
• Suck sugar-free sweets or chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production. Limit their use, as too much of the sugar substitute can cause diarrhoea (runny poos).
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and smoking, as these make a dry mouth worse.
• Try over-the-counter saliva substitutes or oral moisturisers.
• Apply lip balm or lip moisturiser to your lips to prevent drying and cracking. 
• If you smoke, get support to quit.

If you think your medicine is causing your dry mouth, don't stop it without getting advice from your doctor. 

Care of your teeth and gums 

Gum inflammation and cavities are a greater problem for people with dry mouth, so good daily oral care is particularly important. Also see your dentist and dental hygienist regularly.