Chronic dry mouth ranges in severity from annoying to debilitating. At its first appearance, you may assume it is a temporary condition that is quickly fixed by a glass of water or stick of gum. But left unchecked, dry mouth can lead to loss of taste, tooth decay, and gum disease.

Chronic versus temporary dry mouth  

Xerostomia is the medical term for dry mouth. The condition is also referred to as hyposalivation. Both xerostomia and hyposalivation imply a prolonged form of dry mouth, rather than temporary or occasional mouth dryness. Besides the frequency of symptoms, a main differentiator between occasional and chronic dry mouth may be the underlying cause.

Several factors may induce occasional mouth dryness, including:

• Stress or anxiety
• Short-term illness and fevers
• Dehydration
• Smoking
• Open-mouth breathing

 More severe, chronic dry mouth conditions often result from:

• Medication, both prescription and over-the-counter
• Disease or infection
• Use of illicit drugs

These lists are not complete, however. You may indeed suffer from short-term or chronic dry mouth in the absence of the above factors.

Who has dry mouth

Sreebney and Vissink (2010) estimate that 20 percent of adults suffer from dry mouth. That equates to 44 million people in the U.S.

Experts believe dry mouth is more common in women than in men, particularly in post-menopausal women. Further, elderly individuals complain more regularly of dry mouth than their young and middle-aged counterparts. The link between age and dry mouth is likely related to the increasing number of drugs people ingest as they age (Sreebney & Vissink, 2010). It could also be that saliva production declines with age.

Long-term consequences

While dry mouth may begin as just an annoyance, it should not go untreated—particularly if it begins to happen more and more often. Over time, dry mouth can contribute to a wide variety of oral problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, and mouth infections. Other conditions associated with dry mouth include bad breath, irritated tongue, and mouth sores. The most serious consequences include loss of taste and tooth loss.

Over-the-counter remedies

You can use an over-the-counter remedy to alleviate both temporary and chronic dry mouth. As a first step, however, try to identify the cause. Speak with your doctor about your symptoms and brainstorm potential factors. Are you taking a new medication? Has another disease or illness flared up to cause the dry mouth? Are you dehydrated?

While identifying and eliminating the cause is the most permanent remedy, it’s not always possible to do. It is problematic, for example, when a necessary medication, such as a bronchodilator for asthma, is causing the mouth dryness. In these situations, you can address your dry mouth symptoms by:

• Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated
• Brushing and flossing teeth, and visiting a dentist regularly to maintain tooth health
• Using an over-the-counter rinse like Orazyme to relieve dryness
• Keeping sugar-free gum handy to chew when you cannot rinse
• Avoiding dusty or windy environments that could irritate your nasal passages
• Using lip balm to keep lips moist

Your doctor may have additional suggestions to address your specific health situation.