How do I know if I have dry mouth?

There are many reasons why your mouth could be dry and many may think they are just thirsty. In actual fact, dry mouth is a condition where the body doesn’t produce enough saliva and the feeling can ultimately cause pain and discomfort, affecting quality of life. Medication is one of the main causes of dry mouth but other medical conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and also following cancer treatment can have dry mouth as a side effect. .

You may be showing some of these symptoms:

Sore gums and lips

Bad breath

Painful, rough tongue

Difficulty swallowing and altered taste

Loose-fitting dentures

Mouth infections

Difficulty speaking

You can also ask yourself these 4 questions:

Does your mouth usually feel dry?

Do you regularly do things to keep your mouth moist?

Do you get out of bed at night to drink fluids?

Does your mouth usually become dry when you speak?

If your answer to these questions is yes or you are suffering with other symptoms above, then you probably are suffering from a dry mouth.