– Prescription medications: Hundreds of common drugs, including many antidepressants and medications for high blood pressure, can contribute to a dry mouth. If you take medications that seem to make your mouth feel dry, be especially vigilant about tooth brushing and proper flossing.
– Nerve damage: Some injuries to the head or neck can damage the specific nerves that tell the salivary glands to produce saliva.
– Chronic illness: Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and Parkinson’s disease are among the conditions that can contribute to a chronic dry mouth. Some older people have Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease characterized by dry eyes and a dry mouth. Sjogren’s occurs in older adults and is more common in women than in men. The exact cause remains unclear, but if you or someone you know develops Sjogren’s, pay attention to dry mouth. Even someone with a long life history of dental hygiene can develop tooth decay simply because of the extreme lack of saliva that accompanies this condition.
– Drug use: Methamphetamines have been associated with dry mouth.

Dry Mouth Symptoms

Does your mouth feel dry and sticky when you first wake up in the morning? Do you feel the urge to drink lots of water? A dry mouth can make it hard for you to swallow, chew your food or speak clearly. With a dry mouth, your teeth can decay very quickly, and sometimes there are no warning signs for this condition. Untreated, dry mouth can also contribute to bad breath, and occasionally others will notice the stale odor.

– Dry or sticky feeling in the mouth like your mouth is stuffed with cotton balls.
– Burning feeling in mouth or tongue and sometimes tongue feels like shoe leather.
– Difficulty or discomfort when chewing, swallowing, or speaking.
– Dry lips and throat or mouth sores.

Do I Have Dry Mouth?

If you think you may have a dry mouth but are unsure, ask yourself the following questions.

– Are you taking one or more prescription drugs daily?
– Does your mouth feel sticky and dry when you wake up in the morning?
– Do you have difficulty swallowing or speaking?
– Do you sip a lot of water to keep your mouth from feeling dry?
– Does your throat feel dry, and does your mouth sometimes burn?
– Does your tongue burn, or has it changed to a darker red color?
– Does your tongue sometimes feel as dry as shoe leather?
– Do you sometimes get mouth or tongue sores that will not go away?

If you responded “yes” to one or more questions, talk to your physician and visit your dental professional to know what you can do to help alleviate the problem.

Dry Mouth Treatments & Remedies?

– Sip room-temperature water throughout the day and night and carry a water bottle with you at all times.
– Avoid drinking lots of water at an extreme temperature (very hot or very cold).
– Only drink sugarless drinks and avoid carbonated beverages.
– Include a beverage like water during meals. Drink water before, during, and after the meal.
– Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless candy to stimulate salivary flow.
– Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Both alcoholic beverages and smoking dry out the mouth and make you more susceptible to gum diseases and oral cancer. Select an alcohol-free mouth rinse if you’re in the habit of using a mouthwash. Read the label and make sure alcohol is not listed as an ingredient.
– Select an alcohol-free mouth rinse if you’re in the habit of using a mouthwash. Read the label and make sure alcohol is not listed as an ingredient.

Halitosis Treatment (Bad Breath)

What is halitosis?

More than 90 million people suffer from chronic halitosis or bad breath. In most cases, it originates from the gums and tongue. The odor is caused by bacteria from the decay of food particles, other debris in your mouth, and poor oral hygiene. The decay and debris produce a sulfur compound that causes an unpleasant odor.

What are some bad breath causes and other sources than the mouth?

Bad breath also may occur in people who have a medical infection, gum disease, diabetes, kidney failure, or a liver malfunction. Xerostomia (dry mouth) and tobacco also contribute to this problem. Cancer patients who undergo radiation therapy may experience dry mouth. Even stress, dieting, snoring, age, and hormonal changes can affect your breath. An odor that comes from the back of your tongue may indicate a post-nasal drip. This is where the mucus secretion, which comes from the nose and moves down your throat, gets stuck on the tongue and causes an odor. However, bad breath originating in the stomach is considered to be extremely rare.

Why is saliva so important in the fight against bad breath?

Saliva is the key ingredient in your mouth that helps keep the odor under control because it helps wash away food particles and bacteria, the primary cause of bad breath. However, salivary glands slow down saliva production when you sleep, allowing the bacteria to grow inside the mouth. To alleviate “morning mouth,” brush your teeth and eat a morning meal. Morning mouth also is associated with hunger or fasting. Those who skip breakfast, beware because the odor may reappear even if you’ve brushed your teeth.

Do certain foods cause bad breath?

Very spicy foods, such as onions and garlic, and coffee may be detected on a person’s breath for up to 72 hours after digestion. Onions, for example, are absorbed by the stomach, and the odor is then excreted through the lungs. Studies even have shown that garlic rubbed on the soles of the feet can show up on the breath.

How do I control bad breath?

It is essential to practice good oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day. To alleviate the odor, clean your tongue with your toothbrush or a tongue scraper, a plastic tool that scrapes away bacteria that builds on the tongue. Chewing sugar-free gum also may help control the odor. If you have dentures or a removable appliance, such as a retainer or mouthguard, clean the appliance thoroughly before placing it back in your mouth. Before you use mouth rinses, deodorizing sprays, or tablets, talk with your dentist because these products only mask the odor temporarily, and some products work better than others.

What is my dentist’s role?

Visit your dentist regularly because checkups will help detect any physical problems. Checkups also help eliminate the plaque and bacteria that build up on your teeth. If you think you suffer from bad breath, your dentist can help determine its source. He or she may ask you to schedule a separate appointment to find the source of the odor. Or, if your dentist believes that the problem is caused by a systemic source (internal), such as an infection, he or she may refer you to your family physician or a specialist to help remedy the cause of the problem.