What kind of condition is dry mouth and dry tongue?
Disease description:
A friend told me she’s been feeling dry mouth and constipation lately. Even drinking plenty of water hasn’t helped—her mouth still feels dry. I’m a bit worried about her; could this be a sign of an underlying illness? Could you please explain what “dry mouth and throat” (xigan shenzao) refers to medically?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Liwen
Possible causes include Sjögren’s syndrome, hypertension, etc. If symptoms have recently developed, they may be due to physiological factors—such as dry air, excessive intake of irritating foods, or insufficient fluid intake—leading to reduced salivary secretion and resulting in clinical manifestations of xerostomia (dry mouth). Xerostomia can also occur as a physiological phenomenon. Additionally, it is commonly observed in Sjögren’s syndrome, a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder primarily affecting exocrine glands, characterized by dry mouth and dry eyes.
