Dry Mouth - Cause of Bad Breath

Causes and treatment for Dry mouth, Xerostomia, saliva flow, bad breath, halitosis, Sjögrens disease

Generally saliva is one of those things that isn't appreciated until it is gone. Dry mouth, otherwise known as xerostomia, affects at least one third of adults in the United States. Normal human salivary glands produce about 4-6 cups of saliva per day, but when this amount drops significantly dry mouth symptoms can develop quickly. Symptoms of xerostomia can range from mild dryness to pain and burning in the mouth. Some common consequences of the condition can be halitosis, gum disease, and increased tooth decay.

The causes of xerostomia are numerous but the most common cause of this salivary dysfunction is related to medications of different kinds. There are over 400 prescription and non-prescription drugs that can induce xerostomia, but the common ones are allergy medications, anti-depressives, blood pressure medications, and diuretics just to name a few. Coffee is considered a diuretic. Other causes are aging, dehydration, and using alcohol based mouth rinses. Some less common causes are radiation treatment to the head and neck areas, certain chemotherapy agents, patients suffering from Sjögrens Syndrome, diabetes, and other auto-immune diseases.

How Does A Dry Mouth Affect my Breath Odor?

Xerostomia, is a very common contributing factor to halitosis, and causes a number of oral changes to occur. In a dry mouth the bacteria become more concentrated in the saliva, and the volatile sulfur compounds many bacteria produce tend to volatilize or evaporate more readily into the air. When this occurs, bad breath will be stronger and more noticeable. Additionally, the pH or acid/base balance of the mouth becomes altered, and provides an environment that is more conducive to the growth of anaerobic bacteria. Because there is less saliva the flushing or cleansing effect of saliva is reduced, and this results in more bacteria and cellular debris accumulating in the oral cavity.

To learn how to eliminate a dry mouth condition click here