Dry Mouth: More Than Just Thirst

Farzollah Gholizadeh and Fariba Bayrami

A dry mouth is often mistaken for simple thirst. We drink a glass of water and it goes away.

But if the mouth and tongue are constantly dry, the issue may not be water alone.

Why saliva matters

Saliva doesn’t only keep the mouth moist. It also plays a role in:

• Chewing and swallowing
• Speaking
• Tasting
• Keeping the oral environment in balance
• Protecting the teeth

When saliva decreases, bad breath, tooth decay, changes in taste and coating on the tongue can also increase.

Simple causes

Sometimes the cause really is simple:

• Not drinking enough water
• Breathing through the mouth (especially during sleep)
• Dry surroundings, air-conditioning, central heating
• Talking for a long time
• A lot of coffee, tea or salty food

Possible causes of a constantly dry mouth

If the dryness is constant, these factors can also play a part:

• Medicines: many medicines can reduce saliva production.
• Advanced age
• Salivary gland diseases
• Diabetes and high blood sugar
• Some diseases related to the immune system
• Some systemic diseases

The link with blood sugar

If a constantly dry mouth also comes with these, it makes sense to have your blood sugar checked:

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Tiredness
• Unusual weight change

In people with diabetes, dry mouth, a tendency to infections and gum problems matter all the more.

The traditional-medicine view

In Sina–Unani medicine, dryness of the tongue is an important sign. Dryness is assessed together with thirst, heat, the colour of the tongue and the pulse to understand an increase in dryness or heat in the body.

The quality of the saliva is also taken into account:

• Is the mouth constantly dry, or does saliva collect excessively?
• Is the saliva thick or watery?
• Is it different in the morning?
• Does it come with an unusual taste in the mouth?

Sometimes what a person thinks is a “tongue problem” is actually a change in saliva production.

When should you see a doctor?

• If the dryness has lasted for weeks and doesn’t go away with drinking water
• If it comes with excessive thirst and frequent urination
• If your eyes are dry too
• If there is difficulty swallowing, speaking or tasting
• If sores, burning or frequent tooth decay develop in the mouth

Frequently asked questions

Is a dry mouth in the morning normal? It is common in people who breathe through the mouth during sleep. If it continues through the day, the cause should be investigated.

Is a dry mouth a sign of diabetes? It can be, but not on its own. If it comes with excessive thirst, frequent urination and tiredness, blood sugar should be checked.

Could the medicine I take be drying my mouth? Yes, many medicines have this effect. Don’t stop a medicine on your own; talk to your doctor.

Conclusion

A dry mouth sometimes goes away with a glass of water; but if it is constant, it may be part of a wider message from the body.

For the other signs of the tongue and mouth, read Tongue and Mouth: A Mirror of Digestion and Inner Health.

If you want to learn the body’s sign language step by step, Dr Kalan’s “Elaim & Delail” book and the Body Signs online course (currently in Turkish) will guide you. To start with your own baseline, take the free temperament test.