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Dry Mouth Center - Scranton, PA

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Scranton, Pennsylvania

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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

Thrush »

What causes thrush?

Small amounts of the candida fungus are present in the mouth, digestive tract, and skin of most healthy people and are normally kept in check by other bacteria and microorganisms in the body. However, certain illnesses, stress, or medications can disturb the delicate balance, causing the fungus candida to grow out of control, causing thrush.

Medications that upset the balance of microorganisms in the mouth and may cause thrush include corticosteroids, antibiotics, and birth control pills. Illnesses or medical situations that make candida infection more likely to develop include uncontrolled diabetes, HIV infection, cancer, dry mouth, or pregnancy (caused by the hormonal changes that occur with pregnancy). People who smoke or wear dentures that don't fit properly also are at increased risk for thrush. In addition, babies can pass the infection to their mothers during breast-feeding.

What are the symptoms of t...

Emergency Contact for Scranton

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Scranton Hospitals *

Mercy Hospital of Scranton
746 Jefferson Ave
Scranton, PA 18510
(570)348-7100

Moses Taylor Hospital
700 Quincy Ave
Scranton, PA 18510
(570)340-2100

Community Medical Center
1800 Mulberry St
Scranton, PA 18510
(570)969-8000

Allied Services Rehabilitation Hospital
475 Morgan Hwy
Scranton, PA 18508
(570)348-1300

Mid-Valley Hospital
1400 Main St
Peckville, PA 18452
(570)383-5500

Clarks Summit State Hospital
1451 Hillside Dr
Clarks Summit, PA 18411
(570)586-2011

Marian Community Hospital
100 Lincoln Ave
Carbondale, PA 18407
(570)281-1000

Wilkes Barre VA Medical Center
1111 E End Blvd
Wilkes Barre, PA 18711
(570)824-3521

Kindred Hospital Wyoming Valley
575 N River St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18764
(570)552-7620

Wilkes Barre General Hospital
575 N River St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570)829-8111

John Heinz Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine
150 Mundy St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570)826-3800

First Hospital Wyoming Valley
562 Wyoming Ave
Kingston, PA 18704
(570)552-3900

Clear Brook Manor
1100 E Northampton St
Laurel Run, PA 18706
(570)823-1171

Geisinger South Hospital Wilkes-Barre
25 Church St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18765
(570)826-3100

Tyler Memorial Hospital
880 SR 6 W
Tunkhannock, PA 18657
(570)836-2161

Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center
1000 E Mountain Blvd
Wilkes Barre, PA 18711
(570)826-7300

Mercy Special Care Hospital
128 W Washington St
Nanticoke, PA 18634
(570)735-5000

Wayne Memorial Hospital
601 Park St
Honesdale, PA 18431
(570)253-8100

Endless Mountains Health Systems
3 Grow Ave
Montrose, PA 18801
(570)278-3801

Clear Brook Lodge
890 Bethel Hill Rd
Shickshinny, PA 18655
(570)864-3116

Barnes-Kasson Hospital
2872 Turnpike St
Susquehanna, PA 18847
(570)853-3135

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