Dry Mouth & Anxiety - Causes, Side Effects & What You Can Do
Table of Contents
- Resources for Anxiety
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Medical Treatments
- Treatment & prevention
- Side Effects
- What Makes Anxiety Dry Mouth Different?
Anxiety and a dry mouth often go hand in hand. Whether you experience temporary stress (due to something like a job interview) or chronic discomfort (due to an anxiety disorder), your saliva may disappear from your mouth and leave it feeling parched.
Several physical systems jump into overdrive when we experience stress. The sympathetic nervous system releases norepinephrine and epinephrine to cause our fight-or-flight response, and the adrenal system releases ACTH into the bloodstream to release cortisol for quick reactions.
All of these chemicals can increase your body’s demand for oxygen. You automatically breathe through your mouth in response, and your tissues dry out. Your gastrointestinal system also constricts and keeps your gut from digesting food. Acid could back up into your throat and mouth, making tissues feel even more dry.
While anxiety and a dry mouth are common, they’re not inevitable. A combination of at-home care and your doctor’s treatment could help.
What makes an anxiety dry mouth different?
While the link between anxiety and a dry mouth is clear, it’s not the only cause. Several other conditions can cause a dry mouth, and they often need a different kind of care. This chart can help you understand what other dry-mouth conditions feel like:
Condition | What Is It? | What Other Symptoms Can It Cause? |
Medication side effects | A side effect of high blood pressure, depression, and bladder control medications | A previous diagnosis of depression, high blood pressure, or poor bladder control |
Sjogren’s disease | An immune system disorder that impacts the salivary and tear glands | Dry and irritated eyes, along with difficulty swallowing |
Diabetes | Conditions that cause glucose (blood sugar) levels to rise | Increased thirst, fatigue, blurry vision, weight loss, tingling in the extremities, and increased hunger |
HIV/AIDS | Chronic immune system disease | Fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, sores that won’t heal, coughing, and more |
Cancer treatment side effects | A side effect of therapies like radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy | A previous diagnosis of cancer |
Nerve damage | A result of trauma to the head or neck | Burning, tingling, or numbness |
Source: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Side effects of dry mouth
Saliva plays such an important role in your well-being that its deficiency can cause serious complications. By keeping the tissues and environment inside your mouth moist, you indirectly protect yourself from severe discomforts, dental issues and other health complications.
Conversely, dry mouth can cause pain and health problems that may adversely impact your quality of life. These include the following:
Plaque buildup and gum disease
Oral infections
Nutritional deficiency when you have difficulty chewing and swallowing
Poor nutrition from insufficient digestive enzymes in the mouth
Mouth sores
Treatment & prevention
There are several dry mouth remedies available to avoid severe health problems and discomfort that can impact your everyday living. Your treatment plan may include some or all of the following components:
Home remedies
Simple solutions for dry mouth include keeping a humidifier and a glass of water nearby. You can also try chewing sugarless gum or sucking on lozenges to stimulate your body to produce saliva.
Lifestyle changes
If you’re struggling with anxiety, try these self-care tips:
Talk to someone you trust about your worries.
Write down your thoughts and concerns in a journal.
Take care of your physical health by getting enough sleep and eating healthy foods.
Try exercise to improve your mood throughout the day.
Your dry-mouth symptoms may worsen if you drink caffeinated beverages or use tobacco or alcohol. Sip plain water and use sugarless candy to help keep your mouth hydrated. If you need help to quit smoking, ask your doctor for assistance.
Medical treatments
If medications or underlying conditions are causing your dry mouth, talk to your doctor. Together, you can search for therapies that don’t dry out your tissues.
If anxiety is causing your dry mouth, treatment plans often involve a combination of psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medications. This approach helps to correct chemical imbalances that cause anxiety while allowing you to spot and change behaviors that worsen your mental health.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, dry mouth is one of the many possible symptoms of anxiety. However, not all anxiety patients experience dry mouth. Also, reduced saliva in the mouth can result from causes other than psychological. These include medication, chemotherapy, tobacco and alcohol consumption, or nerve damage.
Anxiety can cause you to breathe quickly and shallowly. You may open your mouth to breathe during these episodes, which can dry out your tissues. If you experience acid reflux during your episodes, that can worsen dry-mouth symptoms.
Anxiety can cause dry mouth, and the dryness may feel like thirst. However, the effect is different from dehydration, which is the lack of enough water in your body.
Sometimes, anxiety can cause dry throat, indirectly. By inhibiting the production of saliva, the condition causes dryness throughout your mouth. There won’t be enough saliva to moisten your throat, causing soreness and hoarseness.
Deal with your stress through journaling, exercise, and reaching out to trusted friends. If your symptoms don’t get better, talk with your doctor about therapies that might help.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even when you don’t feel nervous. Use sugar-free gum or lozenges to encourage your mouth to make more saliva. And remind yourself to breathe deeply through your nose (instead of shallowly through your mouth).
Resources for Anxiety
Any mental or emotional instability can negatively impact your family or professional life and steal your joy. If you have anxiety, there’s a ton of resources you can utilize to learn about effective coping strategies or getting professional help.
Some practical options include videos on YouTube, podcasts and phone apps.
Are you looking to hear relatable stories directly from people struggling with anxiety like you? YouTube channels are one place to find videos that address mental health issues and strategies to ease your symptoms. Examples include:
Anxiety United: On this channel, Billy Cross documents his anxiety struggles and coping strategies through various activities, including travel.
Kati Morton: A licensed therapists talks about mental disorders in short YouTube videos.
Podcasts for anxiety take various forms. Some offer coping tips from certified experts, while others share relatable struggles with poor mental health. Check out these ones:
The Anxiety Guy: In his downloadable podcasts, a former anxiety victim shares his recovery strategies and offers action-oriented stress management coaching.
The Anxious in Austin: Two experts in cognitive behavioral therapy share insights into common anxiety disorders. Their podcasts also cover treatment options for the mental disorder.
Software can provide quick access to coping assistance and tips between your CBT sessions. Here are some anxiety applications worth exploring:
Calm: This website focuses on stress and anxiety reduction. It addresses sleep quality and self-improvement techniques.
iBreathe: Download this app if you need help with anxiety management through breathing exercises. People experiencing insomnia or sleep deprivation can also benefit from this digital guide.