Why is my mouth dry ?

There are a wide variety of reasons why your mouth can feel dry.  Sometimes this is just a temporary condition, but it is possible that this could be a long-lasting concern.  Dry mouth is a very serious situation relative to your oral health (long-term dryness can encourage decay and gum disease) and can be a sign of a more generalized problem in your body.  Some of the more common reasons for dry mouth include :

Sjogren’s Syndrome – this is an autoimmune condition which affects moisture producing glands in the body.  If you have other symptoms like dry eyes, in addition to a dry mouth, this has to be considered as a possible reason.  A physician consult would be in order if that is the case.

Medications – many medications on their own or in combination with other medications can promote dryness as a side effect.  Over the counter medications like decongestants, as well as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol can result in increased dryness.  Daily medications such as certain cardiac drugs seem to have an effect on dryness as well.

Chemotherapy and radiation treatment – these can have an impact on salivary flow.  it is relatively common to see temporary or long-term changes in salivary flow when radiation has been applied to the head and neck area.

If you have mouth dryness, it is especially important to have regular dental care, because the lack of salivary flow can have a negative impact on both the teeth and gums.  If you cannot eliminate the source of the dryness, there are some ways to help minimize damage and make you more comfortable.  Talk to your dentist if you think this might be a problem affecting your mouth.