pharmasites logo
We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. By clicking 'I Understand and Accept', you consent to our use of cookies.
I understand and accept
No, I don't want to use cookies
My Account
Control Panel
An example toast message
Do Something
Login
en
en
Pharmasites logo.
Menu
en
en
Change Language
Login
My Account
Control Panel
Free Upgrade
What You Get
Pricing
About Us
Contact Us
Book a Chat
Log Out
Login
Login
en
en
Do Something
Login
en
en
Pharmasites logo.
Menu
en
en
Change Language
Login
My Account
Control Panel
Free Upgrade
What You Get
Pricing
About Us
Contact Us
Book a Chat
Log Out
Login
Login
en
en
Dry mouth

A dry mouth is rarely a sign of anything serious. There are things you can do to help ease it yourself. See a GP if these do not work or you also have other symptoms.

Causes of a dry mouth

The main causes of a dry mouth are:

  • dehydration – for example, from not drinking enough, sweating a lot or being ill
  • medicines – check the leaflet that comes with your medicine to see if dry mouth is a side effect
  • breathing through your mouth at night – this can happen if you have a blocked nose or you sleep with your mouth open
  • anxiety
  • cancer treatment (radiotherapy or chemotherapy)
  • oral thrush (mouth thrush)

Sometimes a dry mouth that does not go away may be caused by a condition like diabetes or Sjögren's syndrome.

How to help ease a dry mouth yourself

Do

  • drink plenty of cold water – take regular sips during the day and keep some water by your bed at night

  • suck on ice cubes or ice lollies

  • sip on cold unsweetened drinks

  • chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free sweets

  • use lip balm if your lips are also dry

  • brush your teeth twice a day and use alcohol-free mouthwash – you're more likely to get tooth decay if you have a dry mouth

Don't

  • do not drink lots of alcohol, caffeine (such as tea and coffee) or fizzy drinks

  • do not eat foods that are acidic (like lemons), spicy, salty or sugary

  • do not smoke

  • do not sleep with dentures in

  • do not use acidic artificial saliva products if you have your own teeth

  • do not stop taking a prescribed medicine without getting medical advice first – even if you think it might be causing your symptoms

A pharmacist can help if you have a dry mouth

If you have a dry mouth, ask a pharmacist about treatments you can buy to help keep your mouth moist.

You can get:

  • gels
  • sprays
  • tablets or lozenges

Not all products are suitable for everyone. Ask a pharmacist for advice about the best one for you.

If your dry mouth might be caused by a blocked nose, a pharmacist may suggest decongestants to unblock it.

See a GP if:

You have a dry mouth and:

  • it makes it difficult when talking or eating
  • your mouth is still dry after trying home or pharmacy treatments for a few weeks
  • you're struggling to eat regularly
  • you're having problems with your sense of taste that are not going away
  • your mouth is painful, red, swollen or bleeding
  • you have sore white patches in your mouth
  • you think a prescribed medicine might be causing your dry mouth
  • you have other symptoms, like needing to pee a lot or dry eyes

The GP can check what the cause might be and recommend treatment for it.

A pharmacist may be able to suggest things to provide relief from your symptoms while you're waiting to talk to a GP.

Last Reviewed
22 December 2023
NHS websiteNHS website
Pharmasites footer logo.
Store Hours Unavailable
No store selected for opening hours
Loading Open Hours...
With over a decade's experience working with UK pharmacies and supplying software that manages over 1,500 UK pharmacy websites, you're in safe hands with Pharmasites. Get in touch today!
Menu
Home
Free Upgrade
Pricing
Referrer Rewards
About Us
Contact Us
Book a Chat
Features
Easy Website Updates
Interactive Maps
Book NHS & Private Services
Pharmacy First
eCommerce
Built-in NHS A-Z
NHS App Integration
See more features
Pharmasites
11 Anderson Way, Lea, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 5EF
matt@pharmasites.co.uk
01904 349 316
No store selected for contacts
No contacts at this store
Pharmasites © 2024
Cookies Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions