Is Dry Mouth A Sign Of Dehydration?

Dry mouth is most commonly caused by dehydration, which usually means your body does not have enough fluids in it to produce an adequate amount of saliva for your mouth. However, there are some potential underlying conditions that may be causing your dry mouth and these are important to note as well. So a better question to ask yourself is, am I dehydrated and have a dry mouth, or have you been drinking plenty of water and still have a dry mouth. If the answer is the latter, then you might want to discuss this further with your physician.

What Causes Dry Mouth?

As previously stated, the most common cause of dry mouth is dehydration. However, there are a few conditions that can also cause dry mouth. while this list by no means is exhaustive here are some of the reasons you may have a dry mouth if you’re well hydrated.

• Medications: Some medications may be decreasing your saliva production which has resulted in dry mouth. Talk to your doctor if this persists. 
• Mouth Breathing: Breathing through your mouth can quickly cause your mouth to become dry. This may be due to a blocked nose, an orthodontic issue, or a combination mouth and nose problem.
• Diabetes: Diabetes is a condition that may cause an individual’s blood sugar to become too high, but it can also cause consistent dry mouth. 
• Radiation Therapy: Radiation to the head or neck region can disrupt your salivary glands and cause them to not function properly. 

Treating Dry Mouth

Depending on your individual case and the reason for your dry mouth, it could be an easy fix. These are the recommended steps to treat dry mouth:

• Increase your fluid intake
• Chew sugar-free gum
• Suck on ice cubes
• Avoid alcohol
• Use oral care products for hydration

There are many different reasons why you may feel your mouth is always dry, so if you know you are drinking plenty of water, then it may be best to visit the doctor for a checkup and make sure everything is ok, otherwise, seek out one of these potential remedies and enjoy a rejuvenated and hydrated mouth today!