Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe Link to SalivaThyroid ConditionsTreatmentsConsequencesRemedies
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Link to Saliva
Thyroid Conditions
Treatments
Consequences
Remedies
Thyroid disease and dry mouth often go hand in hand. If you have thyroid disease, then there is a chance you may also have persistentxerostomia(dry mouth). In fact, while there are many causes of dry mouth, one study found that about half of people who are diagnosed with xerostomia have thyroid disease.
To compound matters, treatment for thyroid disease can also trigger xerostomia. Dry mouth is not life-threatening, but it can make swallowing difficult, cause bad breath, and even lead to complications like cavities and oral infections.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
Among themany effects of thyroid diseaseis a diminished production and release of saliva from the salivary glands. This results in a dry mouth.Thyroid patients who spit, for example, may not experience full replenishment of their saliva until hours later.
This is believed to be related to slowed metabolism associated with ahypothyroiddisease, or the state of having an underactive thyroid. Untreated or partially treatedhyperthyroidismcan cause dry mouth as well, though the reason is unclear. Hyperthyroidism is the state of having an overactive thyroid.
Whiledry mouthis most often associated with hypothyroidism, research studies show that it can also occur with a variety of thyroid conditions, including those that cause hyperthyroidism. Some types of thyroid disease that are associated with dry mouth include:
Dry mouth can also occur as a result of some thyroid disease treatments:
Aside from the obvious, effects of dry mouth can include:
*With severe cases of dry mouth
While everyone gets a dry mouth now and then, it could be a symptom of thyroid disease or another underlying health problem if it lasts for weeks at a time. If you notice that you’ve had a persistent sensation of dry mouth, talk to your healthcare provider.
Besides getting the right treatment for your thyroid disease (one that controls your condition, as well as its side effects), there are other ways to ease dry mouth. Try some of these simple tactics:
What is the one thing you should be eating for your thyroid every morning?
Summary
If you have a thyroid disorder, you may also have dry mouth. If you’re still learning about your thyroid problem, you may not have had time to make the connection. However, the link exists because thyroid disease also means that the salivary gland produces and releases less saliva.
Less saliva leads to dry mouth. Certain treatments for thyroid disorders can cause dry mouth, too. Some quick and easy remedies can make living with dry mouth more bearable.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jung JH, Lee CH, Son SH, et al.High prevalence of thyroid disease and role of salivary gland scintigraphy in patients with xerostomia.Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2017;51(2):169-177. doi:10.1007/s13139-016-0455-4.Agha-hosseini F, Shirzad N, Moosavi MS.Evaluation of xerostomia and salivary flow rate in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2016;21(1):e1-5. doi:10.4317/medoral.20559Chandna S, Bathla M.Oral manifestations of thyroid disorders and its management.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2011;15(Suppl 2):S113-6. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.83343Klein hesselink EN, Brouwers AH, De jong JR, et al.Effects of radioiodine treatment on salivary gland function in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: A prospective study.J Nucl Med. 2016;57(11):1685-1691. doi:10.2967/jnumed.115.169888National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Dry mouth.Duntas LH.Nutrition and thyroid disease. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2023 Dec 1;30(6):324-329. doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000831. Epub 2023 Aug 13. PMID: 37578378.Additional ReadingJung JH, Lee CH, et al.High prevalence of thyroid disease and role of salivary gland scintigraphy in patients with xerostomia.Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2017 Jun;51(2):169-177. doi:10.1007/s13139-016-0455-4.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jung JH, Lee CH, Son SH, et al.High prevalence of thyroid disease and role of salivary gland scintigraphy in patients with xerostomia.Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2017;51(2):169-177. doi:10.1007/s13139-016-0455-4.Agha-hosseini F, Shirzad N, Moosavi MS.Evaluation of xerostomia and salivary flow rate in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2016;21(1):e1-5. doi:10.4317/medoral.20559Chandna S, Bathla M.Oral manifestations of thyroid disorders and its management.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2011;15(Suppl 2):S113-6. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.83343Klein hesselink EN, Brouwers AH, De jong JR, et al.Effects of radioiodine treatment on salivary gland function in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: A prospective study.J Nucl Med. 2016;57(11):1685-1691. doi:10.2967/jnumed.115.169888National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Dry mouth.Duntas LH.Nutrition and thyroid disease. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2023 Dec 1;30(6):324-329. doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000831. Epub 2023 Aug 13. PMID: 37578378.Additional ReadingJung JH, Lee CH, et al.High prevalence of thyroid disease and role of salivary gland scintigraphy in patients with xerostomia.Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2017 Jun;51(2):169-177. doi:10.1007/s13139-016-0455-4.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jung JH, Lee CH, Son SH, et al.High prevalence of thyroid disease and role of salivary gland scintigraphy in patients with xerostomia.Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2017;51(2):169-177. doi:10.1007/s13139-016-0455-4.Agha-hosseini F, Shirzad N, Moosavi MS.Evaluation of xerostomia and salivary flow rate in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2016;21(1):e1-5. doi:10.4317/medoral.20559Chandna S, Bathla M.Oral manifestations of thyroid disorders and its management.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2011;15(Suppl 2):S113-6. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.83343Klein hesselink EN, Brouwers AH, De jong JR, et al.Effects of radioiodine treatment on salivary gland function in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: A prospective study.J Nucl Med. 2016;57(11):1685-1691. doi:10.2967/jnumed.115.169888National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Dry mouth.Duntas LH.Nutrition and thyroid disease. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2023 Dec 1;30(6):324-329. doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000831. Epub 2023 Aug 13. PMID: 37578378.
Jung JH, Lee CH, Son SH, et al.High prevalence of thyroid disease and role of salivary gland scintigraphy in patients with xerostomia.Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2017;51(2):169-177. doi:10.1007/s13139-016-0455-4.
Agha-hosseini F, Shirzad N, Moosavi MS.Evaluation of xerostomia and salivary flow rate in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2016;21(1):e1-5. doi:10.4317/medoral.20559
Chandna S, Bathla M.Oral manifestations of thyroid disorders and its management.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2011;15(Suppl 2):S113-6. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.83343
Klein hesselink EN, Brouwers AH, De jong JR, et al.Effects of radioiodine treatment on salivary gland function in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: A prospective study.J Nucl Med. 2016;57(11):1685-1691. doi:10.2967/jnumed.115.169888
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Dry mouth.
Duntas LH.Nutrition and thyroid disease. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2023 Dec 1;30(6):324-329. doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000831. Epub 2023 Aug 13. PMID: 37578378.
Jung JH, Lee CH, et al.High prevalence of thyroid disease and role of salivary gland scintigraphy in patients with xerostomia.Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2017 Jun;51(2):169-177. doi:10.1007/s13139-016-0455-4.
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