Medicines and treatments that lead to a dry mouth
When a person is dehydrated after an exhausting physical activity, their mouth goes dry as there is no fluid in the body to produce saliva. This is a very temporary phenomenon that can be set right by consuming fluids. The same situation can be a short-term condition, lasting for a couple of days or weeks, in case the body is dehydrated or the salivary glands are not able to produce saliva. A long-term condition is where the salivary glands are permanently damaged. Some of the illnesses, treatments, and medication that result in the dry mouth as a side effect are: Sjogren’s syndrome This is a disorder that affects the immune system, especially when one has rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. The first to be affected are salivary glands, tear glands, and the mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth. This can happen at any age and women above 40 years of age are at high risk. Dry mouth caused by Sjogren’s syndrome cannot be cured and the patient has to work on managing it by keeping the mouth hydrated. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy One of the most immediate side effects of both radiation therapy and chemotherapy is dry mouth. Saliva becomes thick after chemotherapy.