Overview
Dry mouth, or xerostomia (say "zee-ruh-STO-mee-uh"), occurs when your mouth doesn't make enough saliva. Saliva helps you chew, swallow, and digest your food. It also neutralizes the acids that form in your mouth. Dry mouth can make it hard to swallow or talk. Over time, it can lead to mouth infections, gum disease, and tooth decay.
Dry mouth is often a side effect of medicines like diuretics, antihistamines, and decongestants. But it has many possible causes, including cancer treatments and aging.
If medicines are causing dry mouth, your doctor may change the type or dose of the medicine. You may also get medicine to help you make more saliva.
To avoid the effects of dry mouth, your dentist may apply fluoride to your teeth. This helps prevent tooth decay. You may also get mouthwash to fight bacteria. You may need more frequent dental checkups.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
Enter N730 in the search box to learn more about "Dry Mouth: Care Instructions".