What causes dry mouth, and what can you do about it?

(Aging Untold) — Dry mouth can show up alongside soreness, bad breath and trouble with dentures. It affects 40% of adults 80 and up and 30% of adults 65 and up, according to the American Dental Association. What causes dry mouth? Dry mouth happens when the salivary glands do not produce enough fluid, and there are several causes for it, Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said. Finding that reason is the first step. “Basically your salivary glands are just not producing enough fluid. And so you want to know why. You know, always find your why,” Rogers said. Rogers listed several possible causes:Dehydration “If you’re dehydrated you’re not producing fluid,” Rogers said. Damage to nerves Cancer Underlying autoimmune disorders Rogers said a cause such as an autoimmune disorder might be a clue that “something else is going on.” Medications Rogers also said dry mouth can be an early sign in a person who is otherwise healthy. “That might be their clue that you have something going