Having a dry mouth makes it uncomfortable to do basic things like breathe, speak, and swallow.
Kind of important stuff.
The good news is that many of the causes of dry mouth can be easily fixed.
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But sometimes, lack of saliva is a symptom of a largerhealthissue that needs to be addressed.
“Saliva is kind of your first line of defense in keeping your mouth healthy.”
Saliva also plays a role in digestion, starting to break down food before it leaves your mouth.
Ready to get that saliva flowing again?
Here are the most common causes of dry mouth and how to fix them.
The two most common symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, according to theNational Institutes of Health.
Some other autoimmune diseases can also impact salivary-gland production, causing the mouth to feel a bit dry.
There are actually a lot of medications that can cause dry mouth.
The most common culprits are antihistamines and ADD medications like Adderall.
Thats because of the way it constricts blood vessels, Dr. Bhuyan explains.
Dry mouth is also a common side effect of pain medications and muscle relaxers.
People dont often realize that, says Dr. Bhuyan.
Nonprescription illicit drugs like methamphetamine and other stimulants are known to cause dry mouth as well.
Mouth-breathing all night long is bound to leave your mouth feeling like the Sahara.
If you experience dry mouth mostly in the morning, this may be why.
It’s worth getting evaluated by a sleep specialist to find out and get your alleged snoring under control.
Smoking tobaccocan decrease saliva productionand cause dry mouth.
Its not a good habit to have anyway, so here’s another reason to kick it.
“The most common cause of dry mouth isdehydration,” Dr. Esposito says.
Fortunately, it’s also the easiest to fix.
All you oughta do is drink more water and you should feel better.
Here aresome other signs of dehydration, some of which are more subtle and easier to miss.
FYI, sinus issues can also contribute to snoring, so the two may be in cahoots.
you’ve got the option to also try chewing sugar-free gum to increase saliva production.
(Its also a great remedy fordry skin, so theres a nice little bonus.)
Last, double-check youre keeping your teeth and gums clean.
So ensure to stay on top of yourdental healthby brushing those pearly whites twice each day.
