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More than 400 drugs can cause xerostomia but this effect is generally not permanent. The main responsible categories are
- antihistamines
- antidepressants
- anticholinergics
- anorexiants
- antihypertensives
- antipsychotics
- anti-Parkinson agents
- diuretics
- sedatives
- cancer chemotherapy
Other drugs classes that commonly cause dry mouth include
- antiemetics
- antianxiety agents
- decongestants
- analgesics
- antidiarrheals
- bronchodilators
- skeletal muscle relaxants
Immediate xerostomia is due to an inflammatory reaction, while late xerostomia, up to one year after radiation therapy, results from fibrosis of the salivary gland and is usually permanent.
Diseases and other conditions:
The most common disease causing xerostomia is Sjogren's Syndrome (SS), a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects as many as 3 percent of population with 90 percent of these being women with a mean age at diagnosis of 50 years. ( Want to read more about Sjogren’s Syndrome? )
Other chronic inflammatory diseases that cause dry mouth are Sarcoidosis and amyloidosis
Other systemic diseases that can cause xerostomia include
- rheumatoid arthritis
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- scleroderma
- diabetes mellitus
- hypertension
- cystic fibrosis
- bone marrow transplantation
- endocrine disorders
- nutritional deficiencies
- nephritis
- thyroid dysfunction
- neurological diseases such as Bell's palsy and cerebral palsy.
Conditions as primary biliary cirrhosis, atrophic gastritis and pancreatic insufficiency, may also cause xerostomia.
Not enough water intake, emesis, diarrhea or polyuria, driving to dehydration can result in dry mouth.
Head and neck area trauma can damage the nerves supplying sensation to the mouth, impairing the normal function of the salivary glands.
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- Keep your mouth moist: sip small amounts of water and sugar-free beverages during the day.
- Increase salivary secretion by chewing gum containing no sugar or sucking sugarfree hard candies or a cherry pit. Xylitol is a desirable sweetener present in some chewing gums and hard candies which has been shown to help prevent dental decay.
- Practice good oral hygiene. Careful tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste and regular flossing to reduce dental plaque can help prevent gum disease. Sodium fluoride rinses and gels in addition to Chlorhexidine rinses to reduce cariogenic bacteria.
- decrease your risk of tooth decay by decreasing your amount and frequency of fermentable carbohydrate intake, especially sticky foods such as cookies, bread, potato chips and candy.
- avoid sugary or acidic foods or beverages irritating foods that are dry, spicy, astringent or excessively hot or cold
- Caffeine can increase the sensation of oral dryness: many soft drinks contain caffeine.
- Make periodical professional oral check ups to:
early detect of problems
control for red, white or dark patches, ulcers
receive specific instructions regarding oral hygiene
evaluate possible need for home and/ or professionally-applied topical fluoride - Don’t use tobacco. Besides drying the mouth, smokers have seven times the risk of developing gum disease compared to non-smokers.
- Limit alcohol. Is also a risk factor for oral and throat cancers. Alcohol and tobacco used together are the primary risk factors for these cancers.
- Get dental care before undergoing cancer chemotherapy or radiation to the head or neck.
- Use a humidifier.
- Don’t wear dentures during sleep and clean it by overnight soaking.
Saliva substitutes or Artificial Saliva
they do not stimulate salivary gland production. Therefore, they must be considered as replacement therapy rather than a cure
Saliva stimulants
Dentifrices
- Prescription Products
With different mechanisms, actions and contraindicatio