Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while — especially when they feel nervous, upset or under stress.
But if you have a dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and may lead to serious health problems.
Dry mouth is not a normal part of ageing. So if you think you have dry mouth, see your dentist or physician — there are things you can do to get relief.
Dry mouth is the condition of not having enough saliva (or spit) to keep your mouth wet.
Without enough saliva, you can develop tooth cavities or other infections in the mouth. Moreover, you may not get the nutrients you need if you cannot chew and swallow certain foods.
People get dry mouth when the glands in the mouth that make saliva are not working properly. Because of this, there might not be enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. There are several reasons why these glands (called salivary glands) might be affected:
Dry mouth treatment will depend on what is causing the problem. If you think you have dry mouth, see your dentist or physician. He or she can try to determine what is causing your dry mouth.
Remember, if you have dry mouth, you need to be extra careful to keep your teeth healthy. Make sure you:
Sjögren's Syndrome is a major cause of dry mouth. You can get information about dry mouth related to Sjögren's Syndrome from:
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Building 10, Room 1N113
10 Center Drive MSC 1190
Bethesda, MD 20892-1190
Tel: 301-435-8528
Suite 530
8120 Woodmont Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
Tel: 301-718-0300 or
800-475-6473
http://www.sjogrens.org
National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse
1 NOHIC Way
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-3500
Tel: (301) 402-7364
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
NIH Publication No. 99-3174
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