I’m a dentist and you must NEVER ignore dry mouth – it could be a sign of 5 serious illnesses
PLAGUED by a dry mouth?
Chances are you're just dehydrated and your body is telling you you need to drink more water.
It could also mean you're breathing through your mouth at night or it could be linked to stress, smoking or your diet.
But in some cases, a persistently parched mouth could be a sign of serious illness, according to Dr Azad Eyrumlu from dental firm Banning Dental Group.
Dry mouth is known by the medical term xerostomia, which basically means there is a lack of saliva in your mouth.
Saliva helps to control bacteria levels, and also balances and washes away acid around teeth and gums.
Read more on red flag symptoms
Dr Eyrumlu 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.
“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," he added.
He said it was important to speak to GP if your dry mouth won't go away.
Here we go into further detail about what your cottonmouth could be a red flag for.
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1. Diabetes
People with diabetes are often susceptible to dry mouth because of high glucose levels in their blood and saliva, said.
This will also predispose them to yeast infections such as thrush, the charity added.
2. Stroke
According to , it's common to have swallowing problems after a stroke.
These can give you a dry mouth and lead a bad taste to settle in there.
You're also more likely to get infections in your mouth if you don't have enough saliva.
If you're having swallowing problems, the charity recommended you speak to a speech and language therapist.
3. HIV
Mouth sores and cankers are common in HIV sufferers, as is a dry mouth.
This is because the virus can cause the salivary glands to swell, leading to reduced saliva production.
Dry mouth can also be a side effect of HIV medications, according to .
4. Alzheimer's
According to Alzheimer's Association, people with the condition might often forget to hydrate properly or practice good oral hygiene, leading to cottonmouth.
5. Sjögren's syndrome
This is a long-term condition that affects parts of the body that produce fluids, like tears and spit, most commonly affecting people between 40 and 60.
Aside from dry mouth, other symptoms include:
- dry eyes
- dry skin
- tiredness
- vaginal dryness
- muscle or joint pain
- swelling between the jaw and ears due to swollen salivary glands
- rashes - especially after being in the sun
See a GP if you have these symptoms and they are bothering you, .
When to see a GP about your dry mouth
It's best to see a GP if you have a dry mouth and:
- it's still dry after trying home or pharmacy treatments for a few weeks
- you have difficulty chewing, swallowing or talking
- you're struggling to eat regularly
- you're having problems with your sense of taste that are not going away
- your mouth is painful, red, swollen or bleeding
- you have sore white patches in your mouth
- you think a prescribed medicine might be causing your dry mouth
- you have other symptoms, like needing to pee a lot or dry eyes
A GP can root out the cause and recommend how to treat it.
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There are a few things you can do to ease your dry mouth:
- regularly sip cold water throughout the day and keep some 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
You should avoid drinking lots of caffeine or fizzy drinks and eating acidic, spicy, salty or sugary foods.
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It's best to also steer clear of smoking. If you think a prescribed medicine is causing your dry mouth, don't stop taking it without getting medical advice first.
You can get gels, sprays and lozenges to moisten your mouth at your pharmacy.