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Why does my tongue feel dry and how do I deal with it? (Query)

Why does my tongue feel dry and how do I deal with it? (Query)

Don't ignore your dry tongue, it could indicate a severe disease!

Written by Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti |Published : October 5, 2015 3:36 PM IST

I am a 35-year-old male. Since the past few days, I have been experiencing dryness of the tongue even though I brush my teeth twice a day. Do I need to worry? What could be the cause and how should I deal with it?

Dr R K SINGAL Chairman Department of Internal Medicine BLK and Dr Gagan Anand, Associate Department of Internal Medicine BLK, have answered the question.

You could be suffering from a condition known as dry tongue and there are numerous factors that can cause it. Some of the common causes are

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Dehydration: Do you consume enough water to stay hydrated? If not, then the lack of hydration could lead to dehydration, which in turn could lead to dry tongue. Also factors that result in dehydration such as fever, excessive sweating, vomiting, burns, diarrhoea and blood loss could also cause dry tongue.

Lifestyle factors: Even your everyday routine plays a key role in keeping you healthy and fit. Lifestyle factors like smoking or chewing tobacco can affect the production of saliva in your mouth and thus, aggravate your dry mouth, leading to dry tongue. Also, breathing with mouth rather than your nose quite often can also be a cause.

Medications: Certain medications can also lead to dry mouth, which in turn cause dry tongue. These include medications that are used to treat allergies (antihistamines), colds (decongestants), depression, anxiety, hypertension (diuretics), asthma (certain bronchodilators), psychotic disorders, epilepsy, urinary incontinence and acne. It could also be due to a side-effect of muscle relaxants and sedatives.

Clinical treatments: Not only side-effects of medications but even side-effects of medical treatments can cause dry tongue. It is mainly caused due to the damage of the salivary glands glands that make saliva which keep your mouth and tongue moist leading to reduced production of saliva. This can occur from the radiation to the neck or head during cancer treatment or chemotherapy. Also, surgical removal of salivary glands can lead to dry mouth and tongue.

Diseases/Conditions: If you have been experiencing dry tongue since a long time, it could indicate an underlying symptom of Sjogren s syndrome a disease that affects your immune system. It could also be due to diseases like HIV/AIDS, diabetes, anaemia, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension and cystic fibrosis. Even damage of the nerve of the head or neck area due to an injury or surgery can lead to dry tongue.

If medications are causing dry tongue, then it is wise to talk to your doctor about the same. He/she might adjust the dose of the drugs or switch to a different medication to improve your condition. Apart from this, you can even try these simple tips to improve the flow of saliva in your mouth.

1. Don t forget to rinse your mouth every few hours to restore mouth moisture.

2. If you don t drink enough water, start drinking water to keep your mouth and body well hydrated.

3. You can even try a sugar-free candy or chew a sugar-free gum to keep your mouth moist. Another alternative is to use an over-the-counter artificial saliva substitute.

4. Opt for fluoride-rich toothpaste and also use a fluoride rinse to deal with dry tongue. And remember to fix an appointment with your dentist every month.

5. If you have a habit or breathing through your mouth, try breathing through the nose to reduce the loss of moisture from the mouth.

6. You can use a room vaporiser to add moisture to the bedroom air.

If the problem persists, it's better to consult a doctor and get treated for it immediately.

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