Do I have a dry mouth?

If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you might have a dry mouth: A dry mouth is the subjective feeling of not having enough saliva, and it’s also known as xerostomia. It could also be you have decreased saliva production, known as hyposalivation, or both. Nonetheless, we recommend consulting a dental professional since a dry mouth increases the risk of cavities and other oral health problems. It’s important to remember that dry mouth is not a disease and could have many possible causes.

 

• I have thick or stringy saliva

  Yes  No

 

• I often feel I have bad breath

  Yes  No

 

• I wake up during the night due to thirst or a dry mouth

  Yes  No

 

• I often feel thirsty

  Yes  No

 

• I have a decreased sense of taste

  Yes  No

 

• I have problems speaking, chewing, or swalloing

  Yes  No

 

• I suffer from diabetes or Sjögren's syndrome

  Yes  No

 

• I take prescription* medications

  Yes  No

 

*antidepressants, antihistamines, and antihypertensives (blood pressure medications) are among the medications that increase the risk of dry mouth. Taking multiple medications also increases the risk.

 

This information is to be used as a risk assessment or for informational purposes and does not substitute a professional medical diagnosis with healthcare professionals. If you want to know more about dry mouth and what you can do about it, click here.