Saliva helps clean the mouth, neutralize acids, and support enamel minerals. If dryness is constant, the risk of cavities, bad breath, and irritation of the lining goes up.
Common causes
- a side effect of medicines, including some blood-pressure, depression, and allergy drugs;
- diabetes, Sjögren’s syndrome, and other conditions;
- mouth breathing, smoking, alcohol, a lot of caffeine;
- radiation or other treatment that affects the salivary glands.
What you can do safely
Sip water, use sugar-free gum, avoid frequent sweet drinks and alcohol, keep fluoride toothpaste and interdental cleaning. Do not stop medicines on your own: talk about dryness with the clinician who prescribed them.
When not to wait
See a dentist if dryness comes with fast new cavities, burning, sores, a fungal coating, or trouble chewing or swallowing. AIOral can flag an important factor; a clinician determines the cause.
Sources: NIDCR, CDC, ADA. Not a substitute for medical advice.