Mouth dryness

Dry mouth happens when there is not enough saliva in the mouth. It can be caused by breathing through the mouth, or it may be a side effect of medicine, radiation treatment to the head and neck, or dehydration. (See the section called "Fluids and dehydration.")

What to look for

• Dried, flaky, whitish saliva in and around the mouth
• Thick saliva that’s more like mucus and that sticks to lips when you open your mouth
• Trouble swallowing foods or thick liquids
• Mouth always open to breathe
• Burning tongue
• Debris stuck to teeth, tongue, and gums
• Tongue surface looks ridged or cracked

What the patient can do

• Rinse your mouth every 2 hours with a salt and soda solution. You can make this solution by adding 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 1 quart of warm water. Shake the solution before each use, then swish it in the mouth and spit. Do not swallow it.
• Drink liquids with meals to moisten foods and help with swallowing.
• Try ice chips, sugarless hard candies, and sugarless chewing gum.
• Add liquids (such as gravy, sauce, milk, and yogurt) to solid foods.
• Use petroleum jelly, cocoa butter, or a mild lip balm to keep lips moist.
• Use artificial saliva, which is sold at drugstores.
• Avoid hot, spicy, or acidic foods.
• Avoid chewy candies, tough meats, and hard raw fruits or vegetables.
• Avoid alcohol, including store-bought mouthwashes.
• Avoid tobacco.

What caregivers can do

• Offer small, soft meals with extra sauce or dressings for dipping.
• Offer ice cream, gelatin desserts, ice chips, and frozen drinks.
• Help the patient keep track of their fluid intake, and encourage the patient to take in 2 or 3 quarts of liquid each day, if the doctor approves. Ice, ice cream, sherbet, Popsicles, and gelatin count as liquids.

Call the doctor if the patient:

• Has a dry mouth for more than 3 days
• Is unable to take medicines or swallow pills
• Is unable to drink or eat
• Has dry, cracked lips or mouth sores (See the section called "Mouth sores.")
• Has trouble breathing