Dry Mouth: What Helps with Dry Mouth?

When you literally “run out of spit”, this can have unpleasant consequences. Because dry mouth caused by insufficient amounts of saliva is a cause of increased plaque formation and dental diseases such as caries and gingivitis can develop more quickly. A sensible and convenient preventive measure is sugar-free dental care chewing gums and sweets. What also helps against a dry mouth, you can learn here.

Dry mouth – too little saliva

A healthy person normally produces between 0.5 and 1.5 liters of saliva daily via the salivary glands in the oral cavity. If less than 0.1 milliliters of saliva is produced per minute, it is called dry mouth – medically xerostomia. A dry mouth is a phenomenon that must be taken seriously and, in addition to swallowing difficulties, taste disorders, bad breath or infections in the oral cavity, can have negative effects on dental health. This is because saliva performs an important protective function for the teeth and gums. It is estimated that one in four people in Germany suffers from dry mouth.

Saliva: protective function for teeth and gums

The tasks and functions of saliva for teeth and oral health are manifold. For example, it keeps the oral mucosa moist, cleans the teeth and protects them from caries. Due to its calcium and phosphate content, saliva strengthens tooth enamel (remineralization). It also contributes to the healing of wounds in the mouth, inhibits the spread of bacteria and facilitates speech and chewing movements. In addition, saliva plays a crucial role in pre-digestion in the mouth by moistening the ingested food, making it slippery. At the same time, the enzymes contained in saliva break down food while it is still being chewed. Saliva also dissolves flavors. Therefore, the drier the mouth, the more difficult it is to distinguish between different tastes. Furthermore, saliva neutralizes acids that attack the tooth structure.

Dry mouth: symptoms

Many symptoms can indicate dry mouth. These include, for example:

  • Dry mucous membranes in the mouth and respiratory tract.
  • A dry, burning or coated tongue, sticking of the tongue to the oral mucosa
  • Chapped and dry lips
  • Chewing, swallowing and speaking difficulties
  • Bad breath
  • A metallic taste in the mouth
  • Oral thrush
  • Bleeding and inflammation of the gums
  • Dental caries
  • Periodontal disease
  • Taste disorders
  • Constant thirst

Common causes of dry mouth

Dry mouth also often affects certain groups such as smokers, in whom reduced saliva production is observed, and many elderly people, who usually simply do not drink enough and also often take medication. In advanced age, women exhibit dry mouth more frequently than men. As early as menopause, an increasingly dry mouth can occur due to the changing hormonal balance and the accompanying reduced saliva production. Other common causes include :

  • Pregnancy: hormonal changes during pregnancy can also lead to a constantly dry mouth. Especially in the first three months, dry mouth may occur despite increased drinking.
  • Coffee and alcohol: In addition to nicotine, increased coffee or alcohol consumption can also be the reason for dry mouth.
  • Fluid deficit: If you drink too little or lose too much fluid, such as through heavy sweating during sports or extreme heat, a reduced saliva production and thus a dry mouth can be the result.
  • Permanent stress on the voice: If, for example, you have to talk or sing loudly for a long time often at work, the mucous membranes in the mouth dry out because a lot of air flows through it.
  • Breathing through the mouth: by mouth breathing it comes in the long run, in addition to a dry mouth often to torn corners of the mouth and chapped lips. Especially children often have this habit.
  • Snoring: Snoring also involves breathing primarily through the mouth. Often affected people feel a dry mouth and a hoarse voice, especially in the morning.
  • Dry ambient air: Especially in the cold season, the warm heating air dries out the mucous membranes in the mouth and respiratory tract, so you get a dry nose and a dry throat and mouth.But dusty air can also cause dry mouth.
  • Stress: dry mouth is often an accompanying symptom of nervousness, because due to the excitement, the body shuts down saliva production.
  • Spicy food: With, for example, pepper or chili fiery seasoned food creates a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, making these regions feel dry and the need for fluid increases.

Dry mouth due to medication

The causes of dry mouth are varied; often they are concomitants of certain diseases, but mainly they are drugs that cause a reduction in salivation as a side effect. These include:

Certain drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin or ecstasy also have an impact on the function of the salivary gland.

Causes of dry mouth at night and in the morning.

There are a number of causes of dry mouth at night or in the morning. First of all, it is natural for the body to shut down the production of saliva at night. As a result, many people wake up in the morning with a dry mouth and foul-smelling breath. However, it is often due to a cold or allergies such as hay fever that cause you to breathe through your mouth. Sleep apnea, in which breathing stops or falters at times, or a crooked nasal septum can also be responsible for dry mouth. In addition, alcohol or drug consumption in the evening or at night causes the muscles to slacken. As a result, people sleep with their mouths open at night, causing their mucous membranes to dry out.

Diseases as a cause of dry mouth

Behind a dry mouth can be, in addition to the mentioned mostly harmless causes, serious diseases. These include, for example:

  • Cold: A stuffy nose, often in the context of an allergy, cold or sinusitis, leads to increased breathing through the mouth, causing it to dry out.
  • Fever, diarrhea and infections: If one has contracted an infection or suffers from diarrhea or fever, the organism requires a particularly large amount of fluid. Therefore, it may happen that the mouth dries out in these cases. Drink plenty of fluids is the top priority here.
  • Autoimmune diseases: Especially in women after menopause, there is an increased incidence of Sjögren’s syndrome. Here, the chronically inflamed tear and salivary glands have, among other things, the drying of the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) and dry mouth (Sicca syndrome) as a result.
  • Diseases of the thyroid gland: Generally dry mucous membranes and thus a dry mouth can indicate a dysfunction of the thyroid gland.
  • Limited chewing ability: diseases or inflammation of the oral mucosa or teeth, as well as ill-fitting dentures can make it difficult to chew food and lead to a compulsion to swallow. Swallowing requires more saliva than can be produced, which is why a dry mouth may result.
  • Diabetes Mellitus: all types of diabetes – but especially type 2 diabaetes – are initially noticeable by non-specific symptoms such as an extreme feeling of thirst, dry mouth and frequent urination. Diabetes causes elevated blood sugar levels, which deprives the body of fluids. But also other metabolic diseases come into question as a cause.
  • HIV and AIDS: clear symptom of the infectious disease HIV, which can pass into the immune deficiency AIDS, are changes in the mouth and throat. This includes dry mouth.
  • Eating disorders and malnutrition: prolonged starvation or frequent vomiting deprive the body of a lot of fluid, which is why dry mouth can also appear here.
  • Tumor of the salivary glands: both malignant and benign salivary gland tumors can hinder the ability of the salivary glands to work, reducing saliva production.
  • Vitamin B deficiency: typical signs of a deficit of vitamin B is a burning tongue and associated dry mouth.
  • Depression and anxiety: in depressed people, a dry and burning mouth is a typical symptom that usually appears at the beginning of the disease.
  • Sialadenosis: this is a painless swelling of the salivary glands, which leads to reduced salivation and thus a dry mouth.

Consequence of dry mouth can be painful inflamed salivary glands, a so-called sialadenitis. Because bacteria can grow particularly well on the dry mucous membranes. They also enter the glands via the salivary ducts and cause purulent inflammation there. Recognize oral diseases – these pictures help!

Dry mouth: what to do?

First and foremost in treating dry mouth, it is important to drink enough – preferably two to three liters of water or unsweetened tea daily. In addition, vigorous chewing promotes saliva flow. A “chewing-active” diet – i.e. food that requires thorough chewing – is therefore better for the teeth than soft food. Sensible and recommendable home remedies for all ages are also chewing sugar-free dental care chewing gum or sucking sugar-free dental care candies. It has been scientifically proven that this stimulates saliva production and ensures the right pH level in the mouth. In addition, stimulated saliva – more so than resting saliva – is particularly rich in minerals, and its ability to neutralize acids is especially pronounced. Studies further show that the risk of tooth decay can be greatly reduced by regular chewing of sugar-free chewing gum. However, the consumption of sugar-free dental care chewing gums and sweets is by no means a substitute for regular, thorough dental cleaning and oral hygiene. However, for when you are on the go, after meals and for people who suffer from dry mouth, these products are good for stimulating saliva flow and thus as a useful supplement to effective oral prophylaxis. Also make sure that there is sufficient humidity in your rooms instead of excessively warm and dry heating air, so that the mouth is moistened when breathing. It is also advisable, if necessary, to stop smoking

Dry mouth – when to see a doctor?

In many situations, such as stage fright, a dry mouth is completely normal and no cause for concern. But if you notice any other changes, you should seek medical advice to be on the safe side. Here’s how you should go to the doctor if:

  • The dry mouth persists for a long time or occurs repeatedly.
  • The dry mouth persists since taking a medication.
  • The salivary glands are swollen.
  • You have gum problems or toothache in addition to dry mouth.
  • You have problems chewing, swallowing or speaking.
  • You observe, in addition to a dry mouth, symptoms such as frequent urination, a strong feeling of thirst or headache and aching limbs.
  • To the dry mouth a burning sensation in the mouth is added.
  • Not only your mouth is dry, but also your nose or eyes.
  • You are under extreme psychological pressure.
  • Additionally nausea, vomiting or visual disturbances occur. In this case, it may be poisoning, which must be treated as soon as possible by a doctor.

Dry mouth: find out the cause

For the proper treatment of dry mouth, it is crucial to know its cause. Important approaches to this, the patient usually provides the doctor already in an anamnesis conversation. The physician inquires thereby for example

  • Whether medication is being taken
  • Whether pre-existing conditions or chronic diseases exist
  • According to the patient’s diet and lifestyle
  • After possible psychological triggers, such as an increased burden of stress.

In the further examination, the oral cavity and salivary glands are checked for changes. Also, the eyes and nose are examined – especially in menopausal women.

Diagnosis: Determine the salivary flow rate

To find out if there really is a decreased production of saliva, the doctor can determine the salivary flow rate: This involves having the patient chew on a kerosene block or wax ball, which stimulates saliva production. At certain intervals, the patient must then spit the saliva formed into a vessel. Based on the amount obtained, the physician can make statements about saliva production. In addition, the saliva sample can be used to determine the pH value of the saliva, which is often lower in dry mouth. An alternative method is the Saxon test, in which the patient puts a cotton ball in the mouth for a few minutes, which the doctor then weighs.

Other tests

Furthermore, depending on the suspected cause, laboratory tests of blood and urine can sometimes provide clues. The salivary glands can also be examined for abnormalities using ultrasound or contrast media. If these examinations do not yield a diagnosis, specialists such as an ear, nose, and throat specialist, dentist, or physicians in neurology, psychology, or rheumatology may be consulted.

Therapy: what helps with dry mouth?

The treatment of a dry mouth is always based on the underlying diagnosis. If dry mouth occurs in the context of another disease, this must be treated causally. Therapy of this disease then usually also causes the dry mouth to disappear. Special lozenges or medications can stimulate saliva production. Discuss this with your doctor. Certain rinsing solutions also moisten the oral cavity. Saliva substitutes are also available, for example in the form of a spray, which doctors sometimes prescribe for Sjögren’s syndrome or for dry mouth caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. If medications are the trigger for dry mouth, you should talk to your doctor about an alternative medication. Under no circumstances, however, should you stop a medication on your own authority.

Homeopathic remedies for dry mouth.

For the treatment of dry mouth, homeopathy has, among other things, Schüßler salts or globules ready. For example, Pulsatilla pratensis is a good choice. Homeopathy can also provide relief for secondary diseases of a dry mouth such as stomatitis. Arnica, for example, has an anti-inflammatory effect and reduces pain. Krameria triandra, on the other hand, is said to help with bad breath and a burning tongue. However, it should be noted that homeopathic remedies should only be taken as a supportive or preventive measure. If you have serious health problems, you should always seek treatment from a doctor.