As you get older, you may find yourself experiencing dry mouth more often as your mouth slows its production of saliva. While there are many reasons this can happen, it’s most commonly the result of one of the 400 medications that significantly reduce saliva production or disease.

When dry mouth becomes a chronic problem, it’s called Sjogren’s Syndrome, and, if left untreated, it can damage your teeth. Besides the dry, sticky feeling in your mouth, other symptoms include:

• difficulty chewing, swallowing, tasting or speaking;
• bad breath;
• a burning feeling in the mouth;
• cracked lips or mouth sores;
• a dry, irritated tongue;
• waking up at night due to thirst;
• inflamed gums or infection in the mouth; and
• difficulty wearing dentures

There’s no known cure for dry mouth, but your dentist can suggest ways to treat the symptoms and restore moisture. Some remedies include sugar-free candy or gum stimulants and replacing moisture by using artificial saliva and oral rinses.