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Dry Mouth Center - Iowa City, IA

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Iowa City, Iowa

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Dry Mouth

What Causes Dry Mouth?

There are several causes of dry mouth, also called xerostomia. These include:

  • Side effect of certain medications. Dry mouth is a common side effect of many prescription and nonprescription drugs, including drugs used to treat depression, anxiety, pain, allergies, and colds (antihistamines and decongestants), obesity, acne, epilepsy, hypertension (diuretics), diarrhea, nausea, psychotic disorders, urinary incontinence, asthma (certain bronchodilators), and Parkinson's disease. Dry mouth can also a side effect of muscle relaxants and sedatives.
  • Side effect of certain diseases and infections. Dry mouth can be a side effect of medical conditions, including Sjögren's syndrome, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, anemia, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and mumps.
  • Side effect of certain medical treatments. Damage to the salivary glands, the glands that produce saliva, for example, from radiation to the head and neck and chemotherapy treatments for cancer, can reduce the amount of saliva produced.
  • Nerve damage. Dry mouth can be a result of nerve damage to the head and neck area from an injury or surgery.
  • Dehydration. Conditions that lead to dehydration, such as fever, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, and burns can cause dry mouth.
  • Surgical removal of the salivary glands.
  • Lifestyle. Smoking or chewing tobacco can affect saliva production and aggravate dry mouth. Continuously breathing with your mouth open can also contribute to the problem.
  • ...

Recommended Reading Related to Dry Mouth

Smoking (How to Quit Smoking) »

Smoking and quitting smoking facts

  • Although smoking is an addiction, people can quit smoking.
  • Secondhand smoke is harmful to the health of children, unborn children, family members, and coworkers.
  • Quitting smoking cuts the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory diseases.
  • The steps in quitting, each of which requires special attention and efforts by the smoker, are getting ready to quit, quitting, and staying quit.
  • A number of techniques are available to assist people who want to quit, including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), behavioral modification, self-help literature, and prescription medications.
  • In nicotine replacement therapy, which is the cornerstone of most smoking cessation programs, another source of nicotine is substituted while the cigarettes are stopped. (The idea of nicotine replacement therapy is to eliminate both...

Emergency Contact for Iowa City

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Iowa City Hospitals *

Mercy Hospital Iowa City
500 E Market St
Iowa City, IA 52245
(319)339-0300

Iowa City VA Medical Center
601 Highway 6 W
Iowa City, IA 52246
(319)338-0581

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
200 Hawkins Dr
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319)356-1616

Mercy Medical Center Cedar Rapids
701 Tenth St SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
(319)398-6011

St Luke's Hospital
1026 A Ave NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
(319)369-7211

Washington County Hospital
400 E Polk St
Washington, IA 52353
(319)653-5481

Unity Hospital
1518 Mulberry Ave
Muscatine, IA 52761
(563)264-9100

Marengo Memorial Hospital
300 W May St
Marengo, IA 52301
(319)642-5543

Jones Regional Medical Center
1795 Highway 64 E
Anamosa, IA 52205
(319)462-6131

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