Dry Mouth Habits: What Causes It and How to Fix It

When your mouth feels like cotton wool all day, you’re not just thirsty—you’re dealing with dry mouth habits, a persistent lack of saliva that isn’t just annoying but can damage your teeth, make swallowing hard, and even mess with your sleep. Also known as xerostomia, it’s not a disease itself, but a sign something else is off—like the meds you’re taking, how you breathe, or how much water you’re actually drinking.

Many people don’t realize that medication side effects, from antidepressants to blood pressure pills are the #1 cause of dry mouth. If you’re on more than one drug, the risk multiplies. Think of it like a leaky faucet—your body’s saliva production gets turned down, and you don’t notice until your throat feels raw or your tongue sticks to the roof of your mouth. Even over-the-counter allergy pills and sleep aids can do it. And if you’ve noticed your mouth gets drier at night, you might be breathing through your mouth while you sleep—another common habit that dries out your oral tissues faster than you think.

Then there’s dehydration, a simple but often ignored trigger. Not drinking enough water isn’t just about feeling tired—it directly cuts your saliva flow. Coffee, alcohol, and salty snacks make it worse. And if you’re older, your salivary glands naturally slow down, which is why so many seniors struggle with dry mouth. It’s not normal aging—it’s a signal to check your habits. You can’t fix it by just sipping water every now and then. You need to change how you live: stop mouth breathing, cut back on caffeine, chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva, and avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes. It’s not about quick fixes. It’s about building habits that keep your mouth moist all day.

What you’ll find below are real, practical posts that break down exactly how common drugs, breathing patterns, and daily routines turn your mouth into a desert—and what you can actually do about it. No fluff. No guesswork. Just clear, tested advice from people who’ve been there.