Dry Mouth and Medications

People get dry mouth when the glands in the mouth that make saliva are not working properly.  Because of this, there might not be enough saliva to keep your mouth wet.  Dry mouth can be a side effect of some medications.  More than 400 medicines can cause the salivary glands to make less saliva.  For example, medicines for high blood pressure and depression often cause dry mouth.

If your dry mouth is caused by medicine, your physician might changes your medicine or adjust the dosage.  You can also ease dry-mouth symptoms by sipping water or sugarless drinks often; avoiding caffeine, which can dry out the mouth; chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless hard candies; avoiding tobacco and alcohol, which dry out the mouth; and using a humidifier at night.  It is important to have good oral hygiene and get regular dental care, as dry mouth creates an environment where cavities can more easily develop.

— Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services