Dry Mouth

What is dry mouth?

Dry mouth results from not having enough saliva to keep your mouth moist because your salivary glands are not producing enough. We spoke to dry mouth sufferers to get their perspective on how it feels to them.

Feedback includes:

"Waking in the middle of the night – mouth really dry… tongue stuck on lips”

“It’s so hard to swallow sometimes because my mouth is so dry”

“It’s like my mouth is like a piece of sandpaper – or a stiff bit of carpet. It’s so dry it’s like a desert”

“Waking with a very dry mouth and incredibly dry throat – plus being hoarse”

“Wanting to drink water all of the time – but it not bringing any relief”

“I have a taste that reminds me of a piece of steel, a metallic taste – or a very hard piece of wood”

“So sore in my mouth – not being able to talk – or eat properly”

Although many people suffer from the symptoms, awareness of the condition and the fact that there are products to help is low and people often resort to drinking water or sucking sweets. But there are products that can help with symptoms. Read on to learn more about dry mouth and how you can help manage it.

What are the common symptoms of a dry mouth?

A lack of saliva or feeling of dryness. Saliva may also feel thick and sticky

The need to drink more water. At night this may disturb sleep

A sore or sensitive mouth

Bad breath

Increased tooth decay or bleeding gums

Cracked or dry lips

Difficulty speaking, chewing or swallowing food

Problems with retaining dentures if you wear them

Why is saliva important?

As well as water, saliva contains enzymes and other ingredients which help keep your mouth healthy and happy. Saliva helps:

  • Moisturise the mouth
  • Aid with speaking
  • Support taste and digestion
  • Clean the mouth and wash away food and debris
  • Maintain the pH balance in your mouth to protect your teeth from decay and erosion
  • Provide antibacterial protection and help repair oral tissues


Whilst drinking more water can help wet the mouth, it does not have the same composition as saliva. For this reason, as well as being uncomfortable, a dry mouth can also impact your oral health. Specialist products can help replenish your saliva and support the health of your mouth.

What are the causes of dry mouth?

60% of people over the age of 50 suffer from dry mouth. Causes of dry mouth include:

  • Medications – dry mouth is a side effect of over 500 medications both over the counter and prescription including antihistamines, antidepressants and drugs for hypertension. If you take more than one medication the risk is even greater
  • Changes in the way your body processes medicines because of ageing
  • Menopause
  • Cancer treatments, especially head and neck cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Autoimmune diseases including Sjogren’s Syndrome
  • Snoring and mouth breathing
  • Use of weight loss medications such as injections

If you suffer from dry mouth symptoms, you could speak to your doctor or pharmacist to check your medication side effects.

What are the consequences of dry mouth?

Dry mouth can lead to discomfort and disruption to sleep at night, speaking and eating.

Saliva also helps protect your teeth from decay by cleansing debris and germs, and balancing the acidity. Without enough saliva, you could be more at risk of plaque build up which can lead in a range of concerns from bad breath to tooth decay and gum disease. 

The good news is that there are products which can help to moisturise and soothe your mouth, as well as help improve your oral hygiene. Oralieve dry mouth relief products include bioactive ingredients including enzymes, as well as moisturisers.

How to care for a dry mouth

Oralieve products can help you restore moisture and relieve dry mouth symptoms, as well as freshen and protect your teeth.

Moisture at night

Oralieve Moisturising Mouth Spray and Oralieve Moisturising Dry Mouth Relief Gel help moisturise oral tissues, relieve symptoms and provide comfort at night.

Other tips for nighttime relief include limiting caffeine and alcohol which may dry your mouth and using a humidifier in your room. If you take a drink to bed make sure it is sugar free.

View Range

On-the-go relief for daytime

If you find symptoms are troublesome when you are out in the day, Oralieve Moisturising Mouth Spray provides an easy to carry convenient way to get instant and lasting relief in a discreet format.

View Range

Oral hygiene support and fluoride protection

Oralieve oral comfort products are specially designed for dry and sensitive mouths and provide the fluoride protection you need. Oralieve Ultra Mild fluoride toothpaste provides effective cleaning without any chemicals such as SLS which can irritate a sensitive mouth. It cleans effectively to remove plaque with a mild flavour.

View Range