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The Cleveland Clinic

Dry Mouth

We all need saliva to moisten and cleanse our mouths and digest food. Saliva also prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth. When we don't produce enough saliva, our mouth gets dry and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for dry mouth.

Viewer Comments

Featured patient discussions on dry mouth

"Sometimes I try to remember what it is like to have a normal mouth with saliva. That is not my present reality. I have dry mouth due to Sjögren's Syndrome. No matter how much I drink, my mouth always feels sticky and dry. When I wake up in the morning, I can barely swallow. I can no longer lick an envelope or spit (not that I was much of a spitter). The corners of my mouth often crack from dryness and my tongue hurts. I can't eat anything spicy or use any minty oral care products as they hurt my tongue. I use special toothpastes and other products for dry mouth but nothing really helps. I have difficulty talking unless I chew gum so I always carry it with me."


Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, or treatment.
See the disclaimer at the bottom of the comments page.
Doctor to Patient

What causes dry mouth?

There are several causes of dry mouth. These include:

What are the symptoms of dry mouth?

Common symptoms of dry mouth include:

  • A sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
  • Frequent thirst
  • Sores in the mouth; sores or split skin at the corners of the mouth; cracked lips
  • A dry feeling in the throat
  • A burning or tingling sensation in the mouth and especially on the tongue
  • A dry, red, raw tongue
  • Problems speaking or difficulty tasting, chewing and swallowing
  • Hoarseness, dry nasal passages, sore throat
  • Bad breath


Next: Why is dry mouth a problem? »

Dry Mouth - Describe Your Experience

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Please describe your experience with dry mouth.

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Dry Mouth

What is dehydration?

The majority of the body is made up of water, with up to 75% of the body's weight due to H2O. Most of the water is found within the cells of the body (intracellular space). The rest is found in what is referred to as the extracellular space, which consists of the blood vessels (intravascular space) and the spaces between cells (interstitial space).

Total body water = intracellular space + intravascular space + interstitial space

Dehydration occurs when the amount of water leaving the body is greater than the amount being taken in. The body is very dynamic and always changing. This is especially true with water in the body. We lose water routinely when:

  • we breathe and humidified air leaves the body;
  • we sweat to cool the body; and
  • we urinate or have a bowel movement to rid the body of waste products.

In a normal day, a person has to drink a significant amount...

Read the Dehydration article »










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