By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert
Most people experience a dry mouth after a restless night’s sleep or a salty meal. Usually, a glass of water is all it takes to feel better. But when that dry, sticky feeling doesn’t go away, it may be a sign of xerostomia—the medical term for chronic dry mouth. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 people worldwide deal with it everyday. While dry mouth might just sound like an inconvenience, ongoing dry mouth can actually impact your teeth, your comfort, and even your overall health.
Why Does Dry Mouth Happen?
Dry mouth often occurs when your salivary glands don’t make enough saliva. Saliva may not seem important, but it’s essential for washing away food particles, protecting your teeth, and keeping your mouth comfortable.
A number of things can interfere with saliva production. Common factors include:
Medications: Many prescriptions including blood pressure meds, antidepressants, and allergy medications list “dry mouth” as a side effect. Cancer treatments can also restrict saliva flow.
Medical conditions: Diabetes and autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome increase the likelihood of dry mouth.
Lifestyle factors: Smoking, alcohol, excess caffeine, or even chronic mouth breathing can contribute to dry mouth.
Sometimes the cause is clear. Other times, it takes a bit of detective work to determine the underlying cause. Even being a chronic mouth breather can be a very likely reason for lack of saliva.
Saliva Plays an Important Role
It’s easy to underestimate saliva. After all, it’s mostly water. However, it contains small amounts of proteins, electrolytes, and enzymes and performs some important jobs. Saliva…
- Keeps your teeth strong by supplying minerals like calcium, phosphate, and fluoride
- Neutralizes acids so enamel doesn’t erode
- Protects your gums and oral tissues from injury and infection
- Helps you chew, swallow, and taste food
When saliva production or quantity is low, acids linger, bacteria thrive, and oral tissues dry out and become vulnerable to infection.
Signs You Might Be Dealing With Xerostomia
Dry mouth may start as a mild annoyance, but over time it can cause bigger problems. You might notice constant dryness or stickiness in your mouth, a rough or dry tongue, cracked lips, or sores at the corners of your mouth. It can make chewing, swallowing, and speaking uncomfortable, change the way food tastes, and increase the risk of cavities, gum disease, and oral infections like thrush. For people with dentures, braces, or mouthguards, it can lead to sore spots because there isn’t adequate saliva to cushion the mouth. Xerostomia can also cause bad breath and impact a person’s self-confidence and enjoyment of everyday life.
How We Help Patients at Eggert Family Dentistry
At Eggert Family Dentistry, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert know that dry mouth isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s a health issue that can have some serious consequences. That’s why we address it from several angles:
Prevention and detection: Regular checkups allow us to spot early signs of xerostomia and any emerging complications. We use digital x-rays and photographs to show you exactly what’s happening.
Treatment options: From fluoride treatments to protect vulnerable teeth, to saliva substitutes or prescription medications that stimulate saliva production, we tailor care to your unique situation.
Collaboration: When systemic conditions like diabetes or autoimmune disorders may be involved, we coordinate with your physician to make sure you’re supported on all fronts.
Education and coaching: We help you identify whether medications, health conditions, or habits could be contributing to dry mouth, and share strategies you can try at home to combat the issue. Alongside in-office treatments, patients often find relief when they:
- Sip water frequently throughout the day and keep a glass handy at night
- Chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free lozenges to stimulate saliva flow
- Use a humidifier in the bedroom to use while sleeping
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco, which tend to dry out the mouth
- Choose gentle oral care products (like alcohol-free mouthwash and fluoride toothpaste)
Don’t Ignore Signs of Dry Mouth
It’s tempting to brush off dry chronic mouth as a minor annoyance, but over time it can significantly affect your health and comfort. The good news is, xerostomia is manageable. With the right care, you can protect your teeth, ease discomfort, and get back to enjoying life with confidence.
If you’ve been struggling with persistent dry mouth, we’re here to help. Schedule a visit with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert. Let us create a personalized plan to give you relief and keep your smile healthy.