Dry mouth due to anxiety: causes and treatment

Oral dryness due to anxiety is one of the problems related to mental health that most affects people who suffer from stressful situations. This clinical condition consists of a decrease in the flow of saliva in the mouth, which results in a lack of humidity within the respiratory system, Therefore, it represents a difficulty to carry out various activities of daily life that are conditioned by physical manifestations and emotional. It is important to understand that there is a direct relationship between this problem and factors that predispose to the development of anxiety in people who lack the tools to control it. Also, although it seems that having a dry mouth in specific situations is an aspect of little importance, it is crucial to take into account that the symptoms involved may be associated with other reasons unknown.

In this Psychology-Online article we will talk about the dry mouth due to anxiety: causes and treatment.

Index

1. Why anxiety dries the mouth
2. How do I know if my mouth is dry from anxiety?
3. How to get rid of dry mouth due to anxiety

Anxiety can dry out the mouth due to a combination of factors that act simultaneously to cause a decrease in saliva within the digestive tracts. From a clinical point of view, this pathology is called xerostomia, which implies a repeated absence of an adequate amount of saliva in the mouth. However, it is necessary to distinguish if it is a medical problem or if there is some psychological factor that triggers it.

Here are some causes of dry mouth:

• Overactivation of the autonomic nervous system: the activity of neural connections can be increased in situations that produce a high degree of anxiety. Given the nervousness that is generated at certain specific moments that provoke a response from the autonomic nervous system, saliva production is noticeably reduced.
• Overactivation of the parasympathetic nervous system: This set of internal processes has the task of regulating the functioning of various organs of the body through muscle relaxation. However, its overactivation can prevent proper distribution of saliva in the mouth.

In this article you will find other rare symptoms of anxiety.

Dry mouth due to anxiety can be detected from some manifestations punctual that arise in the previous moments or at the same moment of exposure to factors stressful. Next we will point out how to know if my mouth is dry due to anxiety:

• Little salivation.
• Nervousness.
• Distress.
• Uncertainty.
• Sore or irritated throat.
• Difficulty speaking.
• Impediment to swallow, chew and/or eat food.

However, it is important to mention that the diagnosis of dry mouth due to anxiety must be carried out by a mental health professional specialized in the subject. In this way, it will be possible to establish the clinical criteria that adapt to the needs of each person and indicate the best treatments.

Treatment of this clinical condition addressing the underlying anxiety through cognitive behavioral therapy, medications anxiolytics and lifestyle changes, such as reducing caffeine intake and increasing hydration. Below you will find the main methodologies to eliminate dry mouth due to anxiety:

• psychological therapy: an adequate therapeutic approach consists of a series of sessions in which tools are provided that allow coping with stress and/or anxiety situations with greater resources. It should be noted that this problem is determined by the presence of factors that contribute to anxiety. Among the most important brief psychological approaches, cognitive behavioral therapy stands out. Broadly speaking, this type of approach works on the emotions, thoughts and behaviors that promote the typical symptoms of anxiety. From this, it is possible to adopt other solutions to the problems. On the other hand, longer therapies look for the origin of the symptoms from the memory of past situations that are associated with the current problem. The most effective long-term therapy is psychoanalysis.
• psychiatric medication: In cases of considerable severity, anxiolytics could be included in a patient's treatment plan. However, their intake should be supervised by a mental health professional. Here you will find information about the different Types of anxiolytics.
• Practice relaxation techniques: as he mindfulness such as yoga and meditation are effective resources that reduce the intensity of symptoms. It is necessary to practice the techniques frequently until adequate relaxation is achieved.
• drink enough water: dry mouth requires the incorporation of large amounts of water. Hydration is essential for an adequate flow of saliva to be restored.
• Avoid a diet high in sodium: Foods that have a lot of salt can contribute to dry mouth. For this reason, it is advisable to reduce those products that contain high levels of sodium such as sausages, hard cheeses, industrial soups, fatty meat, sauces, among others.
• Perform physical exercise: Anxiety can be treated through activities that involve the use of the body. When a person performs physical exercise, muscle relaxation occurs that favors the release of endorphins, neurotransmitters linked to happiness. In this sense, anxiety decreases and, therefore, dry mouth can be removed.

This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Dry mouth due to anxiety: causes and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.

• Marques Soares, M. S. (1991). Clinical study of patients with burning mouth syndrome: Xerostomia, salivary flow, medications, anxiety and depression. Department of Morphological Sciences and Odontoesmatology. University of Barcelona.