What Causes Dry Mouth and Dry Tongue?
Disease description:
My older brother is 31 years old this year. Recently, he frequently wakes up in the middle of the night to drink water, experiences restless sleep, and also becomes irritable. We would like to know the possible causes of his dry mouth and throat.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. He Haochen
The primary causes of xerostomia (dry mouth) are physiological and pathological. Physiological xerostomia commonly occurs after excessive water intake, consumption of overly salty or large quantities of dry foods, intense physical exercise, profuse sweating, or autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Psychological factors—such as tension and anxiety during menopause—may also contribute to dry mouth. In healthy elderly individuals, atrophy of oral mucosal glands and reduced salivary secretion may lead to varying degrees of xerostomia. Pathological xerostomia frequently follows conditions such as the common cold, severe vomiting, diarrhea, or high fever. Patients with rhinitis, sinusitis, or deviated nasal septum often experience impaired nasal airflow and consequently breathe through their mouths, resulting in increased evaporation of oral moisture and dry mouth. Additionally, patients with asthma exhibit accelerated and deepened respiration, leading to excessive evaporation of moisture from the respiratory tract and causing dry mouth and parched tongue.
