A dentist has warned that people experiencing ‘dry mouth’ could in fact be suffering from a serious health condition. Although there can be perfectly normal reasons to suffer from it - there is a chance that it could mean something which needs checking out.
Reasons people can suffer from it include having your mouth open at night, for example when snoring, medication causing it, smoking or drinking too much alcohol. However Dr Azad Eyrumlu, of leading private dental firm Banning Dental Group, said that a persistent dry mouth can often be a sign of something going wrong elsewhere in the body.
He revealed that it could actually be an indicator the person is suffering illnesses like diabetes, Alzheimer's, a stroke and even HIV or Sjogren’s syndrome. He said: “A dry mouth can be a sign something’s not right elsewhere. This can manifest itself with symptoms such as a sticky feeling in the mouth, a dry or sore throat, difficulty chewing or swallowing or even bad breath.
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“Certain health conditions such as a stroke, diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease can show themselves in this way, while these symptoms can also be an indicator of an autoimmune disorder such as HIV or Sjogren’s syndrome.”
Dr Eyrumlu added: “When you visit a dentist, we don’t just look out for your oral health. We are trained in how to spot certain wider problems with your general health, too. It’s vital to keep a close eye on your own health and if you do notice persistent symptoms of a dry mouth then you must highlight this with your GP.”
Saliva in the mouth is also important to prevent tooth decay, and contains important enzymes that aid the digestive process, ensuring our bodies get the vitamins and nutrients they need. The NHS says the key causes of dry mouth are:
- dehydration – for example, from not drinking enough, sweating a lot or being ill
- medicines – check the leaflet that comes with your medicine to see if dry mouth is a side effect
- breathing through your mouth at night – this can happen if you have a blocked nose or you sleep with your mouth open
- anxiety
- cancer treatment (radiotherapy or chemotherapy)
- oral thrush (mouth thrush)
What NOT to do to combat dry mouth:
- do not drink lots of alcohol, caffeine (such as tea and coffee) or fizzy drinks
- do not eat foods that are acidic (like lemons), spicy, salty or sugary
- do not smoke
- do not sleep with dentures in
- do not use acidic artificial saliva products if you have your own teeth
- do not stop taking a prescribed medicine without getting medical advice first – even if you think it might be causing your symptoms
Suggestions to take:
- drink plenty of cold water – take regular sips during the day and keep some water by your bed at night
- suck on ice cubes or ice lollies
- sip on cold unsweetened drinks
- chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free sweets
- use lip balm if your lips are also dry
- brush your teeth twice a day and use alcohol-free mouthwash – you’re more likely to get tooth decay if you have a dry mouth
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