text: Dry Mouth | Jade Kim DDS & Joseph Vaughn DMD PS
  Tags: causes of dry mouth, dry mouth, medications that cause dry mouth, Sjögren's syndrome, xerostomia
  Many commonly prescribed medications can cause a decrease in salivary function. These medications include antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antihypertensives, anti-inflammatories, diuretics, sedatives, and narcotics. In total, there are more than 400 medicines that may cause dry mouth. Medications are the cause of more than 90 percent of dry mouth cases.
  Dry mouth also may be the result of Sjögren's syndrome, a disorder of the immune system in which white blood cells attack the moisture-producing glands. Other conditions may cause dry mouth, including diabetes, lupus, kidney diseases, stress, anxiety, depression, nutritional deficiencies, or a dysfunction of the immune system, such as caused by HIV/AIDS. In addition, nerve damage or trauma to the head and neck from wounds or surgery can damage the nerves that supply sensation to the mouth.
  Certain cancer treatments can alter the flow and composition of saliva, resulting in dry mouth. Radiation andchemotherapy treatments to the head and neck region can permanently damage the salivary glands, significantly reducing saliva production or halting it altogether.
  There are a variety of methods available for managing symptoms of dry mouth. Your dentist may advise changes in your diet; using salivary substitutes and over-the-counter salivary mouthwashes, gels, and sprays; and speaking to your physician about changing the dose orbrand of your medications. For more information, talk with your dentist.