The simple meaning of dry mouth is lack of saliva in your mouth to keep it wet, per Medical News Today, and it is mostly caused by dehydration, writes NHS Inform. When your body lacks enough fluid, it becomes difficult to produce saliva, which plays an important role in digesting your food by damping and breaking down food easily, according to Healthline.
One recognised quick fix is to ensure that you stay constantly hydrated, Medicine Net advises. But persistent dry mouth despite regular hydration should be a cause of concern. While constant dry mouth is not uncommon amongst older people, for adults and younger people, it may be a result of a number of medical challenges. You could be reacting badly to certain medications, one of which includes chemotherapy drugs, per Healthline.
It could also be a result of health conditions like diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and a stroke (via Mayo Clinic). Certain lifestyle choices like smoking and chewing tobacco can reduce the quantity of saliva in your mouth, leading to dry mouth, Web MD notes.
