Can Anxiety Cause Dry Mouth?
There are two main ways that those with stress are more likely to experience dry mouth: reduced salivary flow and related medications.
Anxiety
Stress can affect your body in numerous ways and increase your likelihood of developing a large array of conditions, and dry mouth is no exception. Stress and anxiety can affect the flow of your saliva and cause dry mouth, according to the Journal of Dental Research, Dental Clinics, Dental Prospects.
Medication
Many medications cause dry mouth as a side effect, including some prescription and over-the-counter options for anxiety, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Dry mouth may be a side effect for medications that treat:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Pain
- Allergies
- Diarrhea and incontinence
- High blood pressure
- Parkinson's disease
Overall, those with anxiety should pay special attention to their oral health because they’re more likely to experience dry mouth and develop other dental problems. According to the Journal of Affective Disorders, those with anxiety are at greater risk of developing dental disease.
If this is troubling, take comfort in the fact that there are many steps you can take to reduce stress and treat dry mouth that are directly in your control.
Helpful tip: Anxiety and associated medications are far from the only cause of dry mouth. We recommend that you schedule an appointment with your dental professional if you’re having trouble discerning the cause of your dry mouth symptoms.