Medical Questions » Mouth and Throat Questions » Question No. 681
| Question: | What causes a dry mouth? I am always having to take a sip of water, and it gets very embarrassing. |
| Answer: | When you next visit your GP, tell him or her that you have xerostomia and see what sort of reaction you get—he or she will probably curse me for using the technical term for the annoying condition of a persistent dry mouth.
The most common cause for the problem is the side effects of drugs. These can be antihistamines, those used for treating depression, some blood pressure medications and a score more. People with fevers also have dry mouths, and some infections—particularly with a fungus—give the sensation of a dry mouth when it is really quite moist. A number of other rarer diseases may also be responsible, along with radiation therapy for cancer, but most patients find that a modification of their medication cures the problem.
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