Why a dry mouth matters
Saliva does far more than keep your mouth comfortable — it washes away food, neutralises
acid, fights bacteria and repairs early enamel damage. A persistently dry mouth (xerostomia) makes
eating, speaking and swallowing harder and sharply increases the risk of tooth decay, gum
disease, bad breath and mouth infections such as thrush.
Common causes
- Medications — the most common cause. Hundreds of medicines list dry mouth as a
side effect, including many for blood pressure, depression, allergies and bladder problems.
- Mouth breathing and snoring
- Dehydration, caffeine and alcohol
- Smoking
- Medical conditions such as diabetes and Sjögren's syndrome
- Radiotherapy to the head or neck
What helps
- Sip water regularly throughout the day and keep some by your bed.
- Chew sugar-free gum or suck sugar-free sweets to stimulate saliva.
- Ask your pharmacist about saliva substitute gels, sprays and pastilles.
- Cut down caffeine and alcohol, and avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes which dry the mouth further.
- Never stop a prescribed medicine yourself — but do mention dry mouth to your GP, as an
alternative may exist.
Extra protection needed: with less saliva your decay risk rises,
so brushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice daily and cutting sugary snacks becomes even more
important. We may also recommend a high-fluoride toothpaste or
fluoride
varnish.
If your mouth is persistently dry, tell us at your next visit or call 0141 554 0499 — we can help
protect your teeth and point you towards the right treatment.
