Many Medications Cause Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is a fairly common side effect of many medications, so you need to be aware of which medications cause this problem. It could be that two or more of your prescriptions fall into this category, raising your risk of having dry mouth. According to this news release, issued by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) (Dry Mouth Linked to Prescription and Over the Counter Drugs):

There are more than 400 prescription and non-prescription drugs associated with xerostomia, according to Raymond K. Martin, DDS, MAGD. “Anti-depressants, painkillers, diuretics, antihistamines, tranquilizers and anti-hypersensitives can all contribute to dry mouth,” said Dr. Martin. “People who take several of these medications are more susceptible.”

Having a dry mouth can be annoying, but for most people, it doesn’t get beyond that. Some people, however, end up with severe problems in their mouth because of this, which can lead to dental problems and other health issues.

I wrote about this in August 2008. Actually, my friend wrote about it because she lives with what she calls “Sahara Mouth,” as a result of the medications she takes (Painful dry mouth from medications). This problem is addressed this month again by the  AGD. Xerostomia, the official name for dry mouth, is caused by not having enough saliva and, according to a survey sent out to dentists, it’s happening more often as our population ages and more people are taking more medications.

As indicated by the AGD survey, the most common symptoms reported by patients include constant thirst and difficulty eating, swallowing, or speaking. Foamy or stringy saliva, irritation of the tongue, burning of the tissues inside the mouth, painful ulcerations and dentin hypersensitivity (extreme sensitivity in one or more teeth) are also dry mouth symptoms. Over time, xerostomia sufferers may experience extensive tooth decay, tooth loss or gingivitis (gum disease) due to the lack of saliva.

There are some good tips to help with dry mouth in the article linked in the first paragraph and here is what the AGD recommends:

*  Brush and floss twice a day
* Chew sugarless gum or suck on non-citrus flavored or sour sugarless candy
* Drink plenty of water
* Brush with a fluoride toothpaste to protect your teeth
* Use over-the-counter saliva substitutes
* Avoid alcohol and caffeine
* Avoid smoking
* Avoid overly salty foods
* Avoid citrus juices (e.g., orange, grapefruit, tomato)
* Avoid dry foods (e.g., toast, crackers)
* Breathe through your nose instead of your mouth as often as possible
* Use moisturizer regularly on your lips
* Sleep with a humidifier in your room to add moisture to the air
* Visit your dentist regularly

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