Dry Mouth Basics

May 26, 2017 | News | The Office of The Palisades Dentists

If you’ve ever experienced a dry mouth, you know how uncomfortable and often times painful it can be. Dry mouth, medically termed xerostomia, is the condition when you do not have enough saliva to keep your mouth wet, moisturized, and comfortable. Everybody gets the occasional dry mouth from time to time with allergies, dehydration, hormonal changes, even stress – but, it’s when the feeling doesn’t go away that you may have a problem.

Dry mouth is caused by many things, but it is most commonly a side effect of certain prescription and nonprescription drugs (such as antihistamines and high blood pressure meds), certain diseases and infections (such as Sjogren’s syndrome), and certain medical treatments (such as radiation therapy).

Treating dry mouth can be tricky as it often involves a needed medication or existing medical condition/prior treatment, as mentioned above. The Biotene product line offers several options for at-home care and maintenance of dry mouth. It is also very important to look at the listed side effects of your medications and discuss them with your physician and dentist. And, as always, drinking lots of water is always beneficial.

If you think you might be dealing with dry mouth or are unsure as to whether or not you are at risk for having it, please consult your dental professional or come visit us in our office. We would be more than happy to assist and educate you.