Dealing with drug side effects

January 2004     View PDF     En español

Dry mouth

Dry mouth can result from taking certain medications. It is an uncomfortable condition, making chewing, swallowing and talking difficult. Dry mouth can affect your sense of taste and can promote mouth problems, like tooth decay and oral yeast infections (thrush).

Treating dry mouth can be as simple as drinking plenty of liquids during or between meals. Avoid sugary or sticky foods or caffeinated drinks since these can make your mouth even drier. Chewing sugarless gum can stimulate saliva flow. If these things don’t work, your doctor can prescribe a synthetic saliva or anti-dry mouth medication, such as pilocarpine.

Tips for dry mouth

• Rinse your mouth throughout the day with salted warm water.
• Try slippery elm or licorice tea (available in health food stores)—they lubricate the mouth and taste great!
• Suck on sugarless candies, lozenges or crushed ice to cool the mouth and give it moisture.
• Ask your doctor to prescribe products or mouth rinses to treat your dry mouth.