Excessive Dry Mouth

Saliva prevents tooth decay, softens our food and helps control the levels of bacteria in the mouth. When our bodies fail to produce enough saliva, it results in an excessively dry and uncomfortable mouth. An excessive dry mouth often leads to other health issues such as thrush and tooth decay.

Symptoms

• The symptoms associated with excessive dry mouth include a "cottonmouth" feeling, sores in the mouth, excessive thirst, raw tongue, throat discomfort, a burning sensation in the mouth or tongue, hoarse voice and bad breath. Suffering from dry mouth frequently causes problems with speaking or swallowing food.

Causes

• Common causes of excessive dry mouth include infections or diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson's disease, anemia, diabetes, mumps and high blood pressure. Taking certain medications for conditions such as allergies, colds, diarrhea, depression, anxiety, nausea, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy increases the risks of developing excessive dry mouth. Over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants also cause dry mouth in some people. Chewing tobacco or smoking causes some people to have dry mouth because these activities affect the saliva production in the body.

Treatment

• Treatments for excessive dry mouth depend on the cause of the condition. Doctors often change medications or adjust the dosages to reduce dry mouth as well as prescribe a rinse for the mouth to restore moisture. Drinking regular amounts of water, breathing through the nose and sucking on sugar-free candy often reduce dry mouth. Taking an over-the-counter saliva substitute also eases the discomfort of this condition.