Why Dry Mouth is Often Undiagnosed and How to Spot the Warning Signs

Chronic dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a condition that affects millions; it’s also one of the most underdiagnosed oral health issues today. Many people dismiss the sensation of dryness and other symptoms as minor annoyances or a natural part of aging, unaware that a lack of saliva can lead to severe dental decay and a significant decline in quality of life. 

 

At Saliwell, we understand the challenges that xerostomia poses and are dedicated to increasing both awareness and management options. Our innovative, drug-free devices, SaliPen and SaliVance, are designed to increase oral comfort and encourage a healthy oral environment. 

 

However, because xerostomia is often undiagnosed, people may not realize that relief is an option. They simply adapt to the discomfort without knowing that a clinical problem exists. 

 

Understanding why dry mouth goes unnoticed and learning to identify the warning signs are the first steps toward relief and oral comfort.

 

Why Xerostomia Goes Undiagnosed

When someone experiences persistent headaches, stomach pains, or infections, they understand that they need to seek medical help. But when it comes to trouble chewing, swallowing, or frequent thirst (all aspects of dry mouth), the symptoms are seemingly so harmless that many don’t realize that they belie a serious oral health condition. They simply attribute it to aging or a side effect of medication, grit their teeth, and go on with their lives.

 

While dry mouth is more common in older people and can certainly be a side effect of medication, that doesn’t mean you need to live with discomfort and pain. Aging alone should not cause dry mouth; but certain health conditions or medications that become more frequent with aging can cause dry mouth. 

 

Hundreds of prescription medications list xerostomia as a side effect, and the more medications a person takes simultaneously, the higher the risk of xerostomia. As polypharmacy is typically more common in an aging population (though not limited to it), many older people experience dry mouth. 

 

When it comes to dry mouth symptoms, another factor comes into play: Many medications that cause dry mouth are essential for patients’ well-being and longevity — including SSRIs and blood pressure medication — so when they experience dry mouth, this side effect is dwarfed compared to the relief or treatment they’re receiving for their primary condition. They may not be aware that their new oral challenges are related to their new medication, or they may be aware but decide that dry mouth is a fair price to pay for treatment of their primary condition. 

 

How to Spot the Signs of Dry Mouth

Saliva is crucial for a healthy oral environment. When the salivary glands don’t produce enough, it can result in rampant dental caries, gum disease, infections, tooth loss, bad breath, a change in taste, and difficulty wearing dentures.

 

Therefore, the earlier xerostomia is detected, diagnosed, and treated, the better the chances for minimizing dry mouth’s negative effects. 

 

Telltale signs of dry mouth include:

• Stringy saliva: Xerostomia isn’t only a lack of saliva; it’s also when the salivary glands produce a lower-quality saliva, which often looks thick and stringy. 
• Difficulty chewing dry foods: When you find yourself needing to take a sip of water between every bite of a cracker or pretzel, that can be a sign of xerostomia. Saliva lubricates the mouth and makes it easy to chew and swallow; when there isn’t enough, every bite becomes a challenge.
• Sleep disruptions: Dry mouth at night can cause multiple nighttime wakeups as the salivary glands naturally slow down production at night. When there isn’t enough saliva to begin with, nighttime waking ensues. Sometimes, mouth breathing or snoring can exacerbate the problem.
• Persistent oral health issues: Bad breath despite brushing and flossing, frequent cavities, a cracked, burning tongue, and more are symptoms of dry mouth. 
• Lack of/changed taste: When foods taste different or lose their taste completely, it’s a clear sign that there is some kind of medical issue.

 

The Drawbacks of Medication to Treat Dry Mouth

Many people think that drinking more water is a miracle cure for dry mouth, but unfortunately, this is not the case. Drinking water is important — it provides the necessary raw material with which the salivary glands can produce saliva — but if your salivary glands aren’t working properly, drinking more water won’t help. 

 

Medications like pilocarpine and cevimeline have proven effective in the treatment of dry mouth; they work by pharmacologically stimulating the salivary glands to produce more saliva. While effective, these medications have two main downsides:

• Unpleasant side effects like nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, sweating, and more
• Polypharmacy increases the risk of dry mouth; so even though these medications essentially treat dry mouth, they also increase the risk of the same condition

 

Drug-Free Dry Mouth Treatment

The SaliPen is a drug-free dry mouth treatment option that works via electrostimulation. The small, handheld device can be used at home; it delivers painless electrical shocks to the oral cavity, stimulating the salivary glands to produce more saliva. The benefits of such an approach are that there are no side effects, no polypharmacy, and no risk of drug interactions. 

 

Natural Dry Mouth Relief

While the above two options address the condition at its source, there are several ways to seek symptom relief. These include:

• Minimizing caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine intake
• Sleeping with a humidifier to moisten the air and combat dry mouth at night
• Going to the dentist frequently to stay on top of oral health
• Using saliva substitutes to add temporary moisture to the oral cavity; these come in the form of sprays, gels, lozenges, gum, and mouthrinses
• Using SaliVance, a soft-silicone device that promotes oral moisture through gentle tissue contact

 

Dry Mouth Diagnosis Can Improve Your Quality of Life

Recognizing the warning signs of xerostomia and getting a correct diagnosis are the first crucial steps in attaining dry mouth relief. As dry mouth results from a wide range of primary conditions and medications, many healthcare professionals are trained to recognize the symptoms and diagnose it, including dentists, oral health specialists, endocrinologists, oncologists, rheumatologists, and more. 

 

You don’t need to resign yourself to a life of discomfort, a life in which daily activities like eating, talking, and sleeping become painful challenges. If you experience any of the dry mouth symptoms listed above, reach out to a healthcare professional and discuss the best treatment and management options for your lifestyle.

 

FAQs

Why is dry mouth underdiagnosed?

Dry mouth is often underdiagnosed because many people think that oral discomfort is a natural part of aging and don’t seek medical help. Others see it as a side effect of an essential medication and think they just need to live with it. 

 

Is drinking a lot of water a miracle cure for dry mouth?

No, dry mouth is a clinical condition that needs clinical intervention. Dehydration can cause temporary dryness, which is vastly different from chronic xerostomia, which is caused by a dysfunction in the salivary glands. While drinking water helps with hydration, it can’t cure the underlying gland dysfunction.

 

What are common symptoms of dry mouth?

Dry mouth symptoms vary by person, but the most common ones include: Frequent thirst, dry, cracked, or burning tongue and lips, sore throat, bad breath, rampant cavities, gum disease, change in taste, and difficulty wearing dentures, eating, and talking. 

 

Which medical professional is best for diagnosing dry mouth?

Dentists are often the first medical professionals to diagnose dry mouth, as they are the ones dealing with the fallout from oral health symptoms like cavities, gum disease, and more. However, many other medical professionals are trained to recognize dry mouth, including oral health specialists, endocrinologists, oncologists, rheumatologists, and more. 

 

How does the SaliPen treat dry mouth?

The SaliPen is an FDA-approved, drug-free xerostomia treatment that delivers painless electrical pulses to the oral cavity, stimulating the salivary glands to produce more saliva. Clinical studies have shown that users can experience almost immediate improvement in saliva flow, and that regular use can lead to significant long-term improvements.

 

How does SaliVance work?

The SaliVance is made of medical-grade, soft silicone and is designed to rest gently under the tongue. It doesn’t use electrical pulses like the SaliPen; instead, its unique shape and tactile contact encourage a natural feeling of moisture and oral comfort.