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February 10, 2010
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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 causes a sore throat?

A sore throat can have many causes including:

  1. Common viruses, and even the viruses that cause mononucleosis (mono) and the flu, can cause a sore throat. Some viruses can also produce blisters in the mouth and throat ("aphthous stomatitis").

  2. Breathing through the mouth can produce throat dryness and soreness.

  3. Sinus drainage (post nasal drip) may cause a sore throat.

  4. A sore throat can also be caused by bacteria. The two most common bacteria to cause a sore throat are Streptococcus (which causes strep throat) and Arcanobacterium haemolyticum. Arcanobacterium causes sore throats mainly in young adults and is sometimes associated with a fine red rash.

  5. Sore throat appearing after treatment with antibiotics, chemotherapy, or other immune-compromising medicati...

Read the Sore Throat (Pharyngitis) article »











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