Last updated on Jan 19th, 2021 at 12:51 pm

Dry mouth develops when the amount of saliva in the mouth is reduced. Medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or Sjogrenâ??s Syndrome may also cause dry mouth. There is a higher chance of experiencing a dry mouth when more medications are taken.

Dry mouth symptoms include:

•         Sticky or dry feeling in the mouth

•         Thick, stringy saliva

•         Pain or a burning sensation in the mouth and tongue

•         Dry, cracked, painful lips

•         Difficulty in eating, especially with dry foods such as cereals or crackers

•         Difficulty in swallowing and speaking

•         Taste disturbances

•         Bad breath

•         Discomfort wearing dentures

•         Feeling thirsty, especially at night.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you suffer from any of the above symptoms.

Other things you can do to ease your symptoms include:

•         Regularly sipping cold, unsweetened drinks and ice cubes

•         Using a humidifier at night to keep the air full of moisture

•         Sucking sugar-free boiled sweets or iced lollies and chewing sugar-free gum

•         Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, acidic drinks (e.g. orange juice) and smoking

•         Moistening foods with gravies, extra oil and yoghurt

•         Visiting your dentist for advice as dry mouth can affect your teeth, encourage tooth decay and can lead to other oral infections.

Source: GlaxoSmithKline brochure

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