Why Does Dry Mouth Occur?

April 30, 2023

The most important thing we need to protect our mouth from bacteria and fungi is saliva. When the body cannot secrete enough saliva, dry mouth occurs. This condition, called xerostomia in medicine, can be a harbinger of many diseases, or it can be a separate problem in itself.

In our carefully prepared content, we will look for answers to basic questions such as what is dry mouth and why dry mouth occurs. In the following parts of our content, we will discuss the relationship of dry mouth with other diseases, symptoms and treatment options.

What is Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth is a condition caused by a reduced volume of saliva in the mouth. The disease, called xerostomia in the medical literature, makes it difficult to eat and digest food. In untreated and progressive cases, it can lead to anxiety, oral disorders and digestive problems.

What Causes Dry Mouth?

"Feeling thirsty", which every person feels after drinking a little water, does not mean dry mouth. For dry mouth to occur in a person, there must be little or no saliva secretion. When the causes of dry mouth were examined, dozens of different substances were found. The cause of dry mouth may be medications that cause dry mouth, or it may be caused by psychological or other physiological diseases.

Common causes of pathological dry mouth include the following:

Diabetes: Dry mouth is closely associated with diabetes.
Salivary gland problems: Diseases such as tumors in the salivary glands are among the causes of dry mouth.
Hashimoto's thyroid: The salivary glands are also affected when the glands function differently from their normal pattern. Individuals with this disease often complain of dry mouth in the morning.
Infection: Dry mouth is inevitable in case of acute or chronic infection.
Medicines: Dry mouth can be a side effect of prescription or over-the-counter medication. With this information, dry mouth is the most common side effect of medications used in the treatment of diseases such as hypertension, Parkinson's, allergies, antidepressants and anxiety.

Common but non-pathological causes of dry mouth are as follows:

Dehydration: Lack of salt and water will cause dryness in many parts of the body, including the mouth. Reductions in saliva production as well as urine production have been observed as a result of dehydration.
Mouth breathing: Breathing through the mouth has a great effect on dry mouth. This is often due to diseases such as nasal congestion and asthma, but personal habits are also effective.
Carbohydrate consumption: Excessive consumption of foods such as starchy foods, flour or sugar leads to a decrease in moisture in the mouth.
Aging: Dry mouth is one of the most common complaints of the elderly. Dry mouth is a normal physiological symptom that develops with aging.
Pregnancy: Dry mouth is a common condition during pregnancy. Hormonal changes can cause a decrease in the amount of moisture in the mouth.
Psychological reasons: Stress and tension can cause dry mouth. If dry mouth and palpitations occur at the same time and no physiological cause is found, psychological causes may be mentioned.

Causes of Dry Mouth at Night

Nocturnal dry mouth is most common over the age of 65. As we age, the body's saliva production rate decreases by up to 40%. This is one explanation for dry mouth at night in the elderly. It can also occur in some young people and adults. Of course, the aging factor loses its functionality here. The causes of dry mouth at night in young people and adults can be listed as follows:

Nasal congestion: When you cannot breathe through your nose, you breathe through your mouth. This is something the body does automatically. Keeping your mouth open all night long accelerates dryness.
Snoring: Keeping your mouth open during snoring is another cause of dry mouth.

These reasons are items that we can add in addition to the general reasons. The main reasons mentioned above can cause dry mouth at night.