menopause and dry mouth and tongue
By Andrea Donsky | Fact Checked | Sources
You wake up with your tongue stuck to the roof of your mouth. You're drinking water all day and it never quite lands. Crackers have become a two-glass job. If your mouth has quietly turned into a desert somewhere in your forties or fifties, you're in good company, and no, you're not just badly hydrated.
Can menopause cause a dry mouth and dry tongue?
Yes, and it's a common complaint among menopausal women. Dry mouth, known medically as xerostomia, happens when the salivary glands produce less saliva than they used to. Less saliva means a dry, sore feeling in the mouth and throat, and dry lips and tongue to go with it.
Why does menopause dry your mouth out?
Estrogen helps regulate fluid levels in the body, and that includes saliva. Researchers have noted that "because the oral mucosa contains estrogen receptors, variations in hormone levels direct affect the oral cavity."
In plain terms: your mouth has estrogen receptors, so when your hormone levels move, your mouth notices. That's why women experience more oral health conditions during menopause and post menopause, and why this often turns up in the same stretch as the hot flashes and the broken sleep.
What does dry mouth actually do to your mouth?
More than make you thirsty. Saliva does a lot of quiet work: it helps with chewing and digestion, keeps cavities at bay, and holds bacterial growth and minor infections in check. Take that away and things start to slide.
If you get dry mouth and dry tongue, you may be more susceptible to oral health problems such as cavities and swollen gums. You may also notice:
- Bad breath
- Sore throat
- A grooved tongue
- A changed sense of taste
- Constant thirst
- Difficulty speaking, swallowing, and chewing
- Problems with dentures
In some cases it can lead to burning mouth syndrome, which we cover in menopause and burning tongue and mouth. The bad breath side of it has its own piece in menopause and bad breath, and if your gums have started bleeding when you brush, see menopause and bleeding gums.
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What else causes dry mouth besides menopause?
Medication is the big one. Dry mouth can be caused by numerous over-the-counter and prescription drugs, including antidepressants, antihistamines, antianxiety medication, and blood pressure medication. It's in fact one of the most common side effects of medication use, so if yours started shortly after a new prescription, that's worth raising.
Other causes include aging, radiation therapy for cancer, nerve damage to the neck or face, diabetes, stroke, and mouth breathing.
How do you stop a dry mouth and tongue?
There's a lot you can do here, and most of it is about keeping moisture in and irritants out.
Drink liquids, properly
Water, infused water, herbal teas, and coconut water all count. Carry a thermal bottle so you can sip through the day rather than downing a pint at lunch and forgetting until dinner.
Go ginger, and suck on ice
Chewing ginger helps boost saliva production. Sucking on ice cubes or all-natural fruit ice pops rehydrates your mouth and soothes your tongue, which is handy on a bad afternoon.
Choose gentler foods
Spicy, hot, crunchy, or salty foods can irritate and dry out your mouth. Go for all-natural, plainer foods and noncitrus fruits and drinks when your mouth is having a rough patch.
Use a humidifier
It keeps the air moist at home and at work, and it earns its keep overnight. Particularly worth it if you live somewhere dry.
Avoid ACS
Alcohol, caffeine, and smoking. All three dehydrate your mouth, and they're all things you can test by dropping one at a time for a couple of weeks.
Keep up your oral care
Use all-natural toothpaste and an alcohol-free mouthwash. Alcohol in mouthwash is working directly against you here.
Try sea buckthorn oil
This one contains omega-7 oils, which support healthy mucous membranes. Dryness in menopause is rarely confined to your mouth, and if your skin has gone the same way, menopause and dry itchy skin is the related read.
When should you see a dentist or doctor about dry mouth?
Keep up regular dental checkups. Your dentist can monitor your oral health and catch cavities, gingivitis, or other dental issues early, which matters more when your saliva has dropped off.
Bring it up with your doctor too if the dryness started after a new medication, if you're struggling to swallow or speak, or if it's severe enough to be affecting how you eat.
Related perimenopause and menopause symptoms
- Menopause and burning tongue and mouth
- Menopause and bad breath
- Menopause and bleeding gums
- Menopause and dry itchy skin
Frequently Asked Questions
What is xerostomia?
Xerostomia is the medical name for dry mouth. It occurs when the salivary glands produce less saliva than they used to.
Why does menopause affect my mouth at all?
Estrogen helps regulate fluid levels in the body, including saliva. Researchers have noted that "because the oral mucosa contains estrogen receptors, variations in hormone levels direct affect the oral cavity."
Can dry mouth cause other problems?
It can make you more susceptible to oral health problems such as cavities and swollen gums, and it can bring bad breath, sore throat, grooved tongue, a changed sense of taste, constant thirst, difficulty speaking, swallowing and chewing, and problems with dentures. In some cases it can lead to burning mouth syndrome.
Can my medication be causing dry mouth?
Very possibly. Dry mouth is one of the most common side effects of medication use, including antidepressants, antihistamines, antianxiety drugs, and blood pressure medication.
What should I avoid if my mouth is dry?
Alcohol, caffeine, and smoking all dehydrate your mouth. Spicy, hot, crunchy, or salty foods can irritate and dry it out further.
Does dry mouth mean I need more dental checkups?
Have regular dental checkups. Your dentist can help you monitor your oral health and pick up cavities, gingivitis, or other dental issues.
