Dry mouth is a symptom that can have many causes.  Two of the most prominent causes are certain medications and certain diseases.  These two broad categories encompass many people and help to explain why dry mouth is so prevalent.

Dry Mouth As A Side Effects Of Medications

Dry mouth is a potential side effect of many medications.  While not all people react to medications in the same way, the sheer number of medications that have dry mouth as a potential side effect is staggering.  And the types of medications that can lead to dry mouth cover a whole spectrum of conditions.

Certain medications for high blood pressure can contribute to dry mouth.  The same is true for many medication prescribed for anxiety and depression.  Medications for everything from allergies and weight loss to Parkinson's disease and pain can have dry mouth as a side effect.  Not every medication for these conditions will do it but many can.

Diseases And Conditions That Can Lead To Dry Mouth

There are also a plethora of medical and psychological conditions that are associated with dry mouth.  Some may cause dry mouth directly while others only sometimes have dry mouth as a possible symptom.  Some examples of these conditions are diabetes, AIDS, bone marrow transplants, and plain old dehydration.

Psychological conditions can also have dry mouth as a symptom.  Depression and anxiety issues are both often paired with reduced salivary flow.  These are only two examples of psychological conditions that can lead to dry mouth.  There are more.

Just as important as what can cause dry mouth is what dry mouth can lead to.  This symptom makes for the perfect circumstances for bacteria to multiply.  Once bacteria start multiplying then you could experience any of the problems that come along with them, including bad breath.  Products with certain natural ingredients can help to kill bacteria and fight the bad breath that bacteria can cause so you may want to try this along with your usual brushing and flossing practice.

The keys to success in the battle against gum disease and most oral problems are hidden in nature. Fighting the bacteria that causes the problem is the first place to start and specific species of peppermint and spearmint oils are scientifically proven to be anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial and can fix dry mouth.