Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)

General Dentistry

What is it

What are the Symptoms

• A sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
• Thick, stringy saliva
• Frequent thirst
• Pain in the mouth or on the tongue
• Dry, red and raw tongue
• Sore in mouth; Cracks in lips or at the corners of the mouth
• A dry feeling in the throat
• Hoarseness, dry nasal passages, sore throat
• Difficulty chewing, tasting, or swallowing
• Difficulty talking

What are the Causes

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy cause dry mouth by damaging the salivary glands. Chemotherapy causes dry mouth by making saliva thicker. But this is usually a temporary symptom that clears up about 2 to 8 weeks after treatment ends.

Radiation therapy to the head, face, or neck may also cause dry mouth. But it can take 6 months or longer for the salivary glands to start producing saliva again after radiation therapy ends. Some people notice dry mouth improving during the first year after radiation treatment. But many people continue experiencing some level of long-term dry mouth. This is especially likely if radiation therapy was directed at the salivary glands.

Dry mouth can also be caused by:

• Graft-versus-host disease, in which cells transplanted from a donor recognize the patient’s body as foreign and attack it
• Antidepressants
• Medicines called diuretics, which increase urination
• Some painkillers
• A mouth infection
• Dehydration resulted from conditions such as fever, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, and burns can cause dry mouth.

Care Tips

• Visit a dentist before starting radiation therapy or chemotherapy to check the health of your mouth and teeth. Schedule this as soon as you can. If you need to have teeth removed, it should be done at least 3 weeks before treatment so your mouth can heal.
• Brush your teeth after each meal and at bedtime with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Soak the brush in warm water to make the bristles even softer.
• Floss gently once a day.
• Rinse your mouth 4 to 6 times a day, especially after meals, with salt and baking soda. Try a solution of half a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of baking soda in 1 cup of warm water.
• When radiation therapy starts, use fluoride rinses and gels. These are an important part of caring for the health of your mouth during cancer treatment.
• Drink sips of water throughout the day, and use artificial saliva  to moisten your mouth.
• Avoid mouthwashes and other dental products that contain alcohol. Products designed for people with dry mouth are available without a prescription such as Xerostom and Oral7.
• Use a cool mist humidifier, especially at night.

Some dentists may also prescribe medicines to increase saliva or rinses to treat infections in the mouth.

Other tips for eating with a dry mouth:

• Drink at least 8 cups of water a day. Carrying a bottle of water may help you drink enough.
• Avoid alcohol, drinks with caffeine (such as coffee, tea, and soda), and acidic juices.
• Eat soft, moist foods that are cool or at room temperature.
• Moisten dry foods with broth, sauces, butter, or milk.
• Avoid dry, coarse, or hard foods.
• Avoid acidic or spicy foods that can burn your mouth.
• Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
• Avoid sticky, sugary foods and drinks.