Why is Dry Mouth More Common in Women — and What Treatments Are Available?
Dry mouth, a condition that results when salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva, is more common in women than men — but why? In this article, we’ll discuss what dry mouth is, why women are more prone to developing it, and what dry mouth treatments are available.
What is Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth is a condition that occurs when the salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva. Saliva plays an incredibly important role in oral health — it washes away food particles, neutralizes acids in the mouth, facilitates digestion, and prevents tooth decay. Therefore, when there is a lack of saliva, many uncomfortable symptoms ensue and oral health begins to deteriorate. Persistent dry mouth can result in severe dental problems and a decreased quality of life.
Depending on the severity of the condition, people with dry mouth can experience:
- Sore, scratchy throat
- Bad breath
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, and talking
- Cracked lips, tongue
- Difficulty wearing dentures
- Digestive problems
- Weight loss
- Fungal infections
- Oral complications such as periodontitis and tooth decay
3 Factors That Result in the Prevalence of Dry Mouth in Women
Research has shown that women suffer from dry mouth more than men. One study showed 21.3% of men presenting with it compared to 27.3% of women, while another study showed 14.7% of men with xerostomia compared to 23.3% of women. There are many other studies that show a higher rate of xerostomia in women than men — and now the question remains, why?
There are three main reasons xerostomia affects more women than men.
- Hormonal Changes
Women go through several significant hormonal changes throughout their lifetime, specifically during pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause.
During pregnancy, women may experience dry mouth, due either to hormonal changes that occur naturally during this stage, or to gestational diabetes, which can further affect salivary gland function.
Typically between the ages of 45 and 55, women’s bodies go through perimenopause, the transition toward menopause. During this transition, hormone levels shift and estrogen levels begin to decrease, which affects salivary gland function (among other things). Research shows that periodontal health, dry mouth, and burning mouth are the most common oral health challenges women experience during menopause.
- Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases affect women more than men, and many of these diseases affect salivary gland function.
Sjögren’s syndrome, for example, is a chronic autoimmune disease that targets moisture-producing glands, which results in both dry eyes and dry mouth. It is significantly more common in women, with a female to male ratio of about 9:1. Symptoms typically appear between the ages of 45 and 55, and about half of those diagnosed also have rheumatoid arthritis or another connective tissue disease, like lupus.
Sjögren’s syndrome is often underdiagnosed, which results in women suffering from dry mouth (and dry eyes) without understanding that they need medical intervention. Persistent dry mouth without treatment can lead to more severe dental decay, mouth sores, difficulty chewing, swallowing, and talking, and many other uncomfortable symptoms.
- Medication
Research has shown that women, particularly older women, tend to take more medication than men. This is true for several reasons: first, women live longer than men, statistically, which means they have more time (and likely, more of a need as they get older) to take more medications. Second, studies have shown that women are more likely to go to the doctor than men and receive treatment, another reason why they take more medication. Third, contraceptive pills can cause dry mouth, and these are exclusively used by women.
Contraceptives, of course, are not the only type of medication that cause dry mouth. According to the Journal of the American Dental Association, over 500 medications list dry mouth as a side effect, including antihistamines, antidepressants, and medications for high blood pressure.
Moreover, polypharmacy — taking two or more medications simultaneously — is a noted cause of dry mouth — and as women get older they are likely to take multiple medications.
Dry Mouth Treatment for Women
Women who experience dry mouth, at any age, need not face it alone. There are many treatments available that can ease the pain and discomfort of dry mouth symptoms and improve oral health.
- Electrostimulation: Intraoral electrostimulation devices, like the FDA-approved SaliPen, deliver small electrical impulses to the oral cavity designed to naturally increase the body’s production of saliva. The device is safe for women and men of all ages, and has no adverse side effects.
- Saliva stimulants: Certain prescription medications are designed to increase the body’s natural production of saliva. Many of these medications, however, have side effects, which should be discussed with a medical professional.
- Saliva substitutes: Also known as artificial saliva, saliva substitutes don’t treat the underlying cause of dry mouth, but attempt to treat the symptoms. As many of the painful and detrimental symptoms of dry mouth occur due to lack of saliva, artificial saliva seeks to remedy the situation by offering temporary relief. Artificial saliva comes in the form of sprays, mouthwashes, sugar-free gum, and lozenges.
- Medication adjustment: Women who experience dry mouth as a side effect of medications can talk with their healthcare providers and try to change the dose or brand, which may result in lessened side effects.
- Dental implants: Recent research from Copenhagen showed that dental implants can improve the quality of life for women with primary Sjögren’s disease. While there is no cure for the disease, which causes dry mouth and subsequent dental problems, the research shows that dental implants in women with Sjögren’s syndrome, over the course of five years, resulted in similar gum health and appearance in women without the disease.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Research suggests that HRT can positively impact dry mouth caused by menopause. However, because HRT affects many other body systems, it’s important for women to discuss this option with a healthcare professional and be aware of all the pros and cons.
The Bottom Line
Women may be more prone to dry mouth than men, but that doesn’t mean they need to bear their pain and discomfort in silence. There are many treatments available, both those that treat the underlying condition of dry mouth and those that alleviate the symptoms. As dry mouth is a condition that affects many aspects of daily life, it’s important for women who suffer from it to seek a multidisciplinary approach, involving healthcare providers, oral health specialists, and dentists. This way, they can achieve the best possible care and treatment.
FAQS
Is it true that dry mouth affects more women than men?
Yes, dry mouth affects more women than men.
Why do more women suffer from dry mouth than men?
More women have dry mouth because of hormonal shifts, the prevalence of autoimmune diseases in women, and their taking more medications.
Can dry mouth be treated by drinking a lot of water?
Drinking water is certainly important and can ease the discomfort of dry mouth, but when it’s clinical, often a more medical intervention is necessary, such as electrostimulation, prescription medication, HRT, and more.
Is the SaliPen safe to use as a dry mouth treatment?
Yes, the SaliPen is safe, FDA-approved, and has no side effects.
Where can I purchase the SaliPen?
You can purchase the SaliPen here.
