My mouth is dry at night and pasty when I wake up: what are the causes (and what can be done)?

Who Is Most Affected by Dry Mouth?

“Older adults are more affected because their salivary glands function less efficiently,” explains Dr. Christophe Lequart, dentist and spokesperson for the French Union for Oral Health (UFSBD).

Medical conditions that can cause dry mouth

Dry mouth may also be associated with:

• Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease affecting the salivary and tear glands;

• Glossodynia (burning mouth syndrome), often occurring after menopause, causing painful burning sensations on the tongue with no identifiable cause;

• Diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Hodgkin’s disease, or HIV;

• Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

In severe cases, some people produce little to no saliva and must use artificial saliva substitutes to speak, eat, and protect their oral health.

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