“Cottonmouth” is a common condition where your mouth becomes dry due to reduced saliva production. Though it seems to happen suddenly and without reason, several factors cause cottonmouth.
1. Medication
Certain medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, and medicine for high blood pressure, can interfere with saliva production or its flow and cause dry mouth as a side effect.
2. Dehydration
Insufficient fluid intake can lead to dehydration. When the body is dehydrated, your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to moisten your mouth, leading to a dry mouth.
3. Nerve Damage
Medical conditions, surgical procedures, and injuries to the head or neck can damage the nerves that control salivary glands, reduce saliva production, and cause dry mouth.
4. Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety disorders can trigger physiological responses in the body, including reduced saliva production and dry mouth.
5. Certain Conditions and Treatments
Certain medical conditions and treatments are associated with dry mouth, like Sjögren’s syndrome (an autoimmune disorder that affects your salivary glands) and radiation therapy that can damage salivary glands.
6. Smoking
The chemicals in tobacco products and smoke irritate the salivary glands, affect saliva production, and can contribute to dry mouth.
7. Mouth Breathing
The last and perhaps most unsuspecting cause of cottonmouth, mouth breathing bypasses the natural moisturizing effect of nasal breathing, which leads to decreased saliva flow and dry mouth.
Maintaining good oral hygiene, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding substances that worsen dry mouth, like caffeine and alcohol, could help alleviate symptoms. Persistent or severe dry mouth could be a symptom of an underlying medical condition or require specific treatment, so you may want to get evaluated by a healthcare professional.