My sister had a problem with dry mouth and eyes for years. She then had recurring infections in her lady parts. An astute doctor finally diagnosed her with Sjogren's Syndrome. There are future health risks associated with this, so it's worth asking about.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sjogren's Syndrome

Talk to your Dr. Here is a lack of water as it is a dry cold in the winter for me. The Dr should check the iron, vit D level etc and rule out any serious problem

Yes, for me it does. I have intermittent anemia and as long as I remember to take my iron supplement, I don't get dry mouth/thirst.

Yes, it absolutely can and I suffer from it. I have iron deficiency anemia. My mouth is very dry, my tongue, lips and mouth burn. I also get sores inside my mouth because of the dryness. When your mouth is dry it can lead to thrush (thankfully I haven't experienced that). I can't begin to tell you how many doctors I have seen for my extreme dry mouth problem without any luck. It was an oral surgeon friend of mine that finally figured it all out. I am on a large dose of iron and I am finally getting better after a year and a half of dealing with this. There are days that I can't eat because of the burning mouth issue.

Many times doctors will diagnose it as Burning Mouth Syndrome, but that is just a general term. There are many contribuing factors and most doctors don't bother to delve into the problem.

Vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia) can also cause dry mouth. Hormonal changes can cause dry mouth. Also, Celiac disease

Ask the doctor for the following blood tests: complete blood count, Ferritin, TIBC and B12.

The things that have helped me, along with the Iron and B12 are using a humidifier, chewing sugarless gum, sipping water throughout the day and using Biotene mouth gel at night.

I have had the dry mouth since my Chemo treatments. I also had iron deficiency anemia. The Chemo nurses told me about the Biotene Rinse and I use it every night at bedtime and try to drink a lot of water during the day.

Woodsy1 - I did have the blood tests done for RA- which specific ones I don't know but I had talked to my ENT about Sjoren's Syndrome. Two different nurses had mentioned it to me but the doctor's never did. Mine started - (sores in the mouth) after some dental work and also about the time strawberries came in season here. I thought it was either a reaction to the material in the new crown or an allergic reaction to something I ate. I went through food allergy testing and am allergic to strawberries and some other things that I have eaten for years but the allergy doc said it would be more intestinal rather than rash/sores. The medical doctors called mine Viral Stomatitis, which like Matti said is a general term. My dentist leaned towards the Burning Tongue or Geograpical Mouth. All they do is treat the symptoms.

I will not be surprised if in the future it is diagnosed as Sjorgens. I have had frozen shoulders in the past 6 years, and several episodes when I get either hives or swelling of the eyes. The worst episode of that ended me up in the hospital (I mentioned a pressure in my chest that sent me to the cardic floor). They pumped me full of Benadryl, Cortisone, and histamines but the swelling took a week to go away. They didn't seem the least bit concerned about that but focused on the heart.

Anyway, Matti, may I ask you if the sores come up in different places like on the inside of the cheeks and lips or just on the tongue. The worst ones I get are on the outside of the tongue in the soft fleshy part near my molars. Have had a couple of the episodes of burning on the tip of my tongue - that was not pleasant! I have had to give up soft drinks and spicy foods, plus have to watch for cereals that are too crispy.

My iron seems okay - at least I haven't been told I need it in addition to the vitamin. My potassium does seems to run low and am taking that in addition to the vitamin.

mboston-my friend had mouth sores and got allergy tested-strawberries (among a few other things) so it can be a rash. My friend ate them for years and never made the connection. But it does sound like you have more issues going on. I hope you get some relief soon!
Teresa

Thank you all for your anwers.

@matti5:

Hi Matti,

I visited many doctors too because of this. They told me all diffrent things.One said I have Sjogren but he is not sure.
My ferritin is very low too.

I suffer from it sice march 2009, but now it is very bad. It is so bad that it's hard to eat and speak.

I take iron tablets since one week(100mg everyday), i hope it will help.

How much iron do you take?You wrote that it helped, does this mean that your mouth isn't dry as before?

mboston - Yes, I get sores on my tongue, lips and inside my cheek. The sores on my lips look more like little red patches, never blister like. The tip of my tongue is always red and somewhat inflammed, so it makes eating very difficult and ice water is the only thing that comforts it. My doctor told me that iron deficiency anemia will inflame the tongue and because the tongue is somewhat swollen, it gets irritated from rubbing against the teeth. when this happens, the tip of my tongue will feel numb and then a few days later it will start burning. I too have stopped eating spicy foods, soft drink, wine and many of my favorite foods. It's been so frustrating.

Magaritha - Mine began in May of 2009. I totally sympathize with the not being able to eat or speak when there is a flare up. This has really been a tough thing to deal with and has impacted my life. In June of this year I had a hysterectomy, so at least I won't be dealing with huge amounts of blood loss every month. That also may be why I am starting to notice a difference. My ferritin level is at 3. I just had another blood work up yesterday, so fingers crossed I see an improvement.

I take chelated iron which is better absorbed. I just decreased my dosage to 125 mg because it was causing significant intestinal issues.

I live in SF bay area and just recently found out that there is a Burning Mouth specialty at UCSF. I'm glad someone is starting to take notice of this disease.

I sure hope we all feel better! Big hugs!

Matti:
When do you get the bloodwork results?
I hope your ferritin raised.
Please keep us postet about it.

Since when you are taking the iron tablets?
I take them for 8 days now, but i think it's much to early for a change.I have to be patient.

To all who are affected by dry mouth, I wonder if you would be interested in comparing notes a little more as to other ailments, medical issues, medicines you are on, etc.
For example, I had a hysterectomy at the age of 36, took RHT until about 8 years ago. I also take medicine for GERD and of course have both food and enviomental allergies.

I have been very frustrated because like others, no one seems to take me seriously or cares to find a root cause for this problem. I thought maybe there is something more in common to all of us that might be worth looking into.

If you are interested, please email me through GW.

I have dry mouth in the morning but I think it is because I sleep with my mouth open.

SamKaren
your resident DJ

mboston - most GERD meds cause dry mouth. I have had to stop taking mine because of the that side effect.

I would love to chat with you about this. I've scoured the internet looking for info and am very frustrated with all the doctors I have seen. There has to be a common thread in all of this, as we seem to have the similar symptoms.

Do you suffer from Rosacea? I do occasionally and I was told by a dermatologist that it can affect the lips. I have not used lipstick in over a year because I thought that might have something to do with it. I also use a special toothpaste that I order online. It has no sodium lauryl sulfate or other harsh ingredients.

My dentist told me a long time ago not to use anything but the basic toothpaste with fluoride, nothing to whiten. I now use Senseodyn or the Biotene. Neither make my teeth feel clean so every 2 or 3 days I use my old Crest.

I did get a mouth rinse from the dentist that did help sooth the sores. Actually my doctor also gave me one that has 4 ingredients in it and it also helped. However, one of the ingredients settles out of it over time and it gets gritty. They say it doesn't hurt it but I don't like the feel of it. If you are interested in knowing about them since they are perscriptions, I'd rather send you the names of them directly instead of on here. I only use them if the sores get to really hurting or I seem to have numerous spots. Mine started last March and it was bad through about August. The last couple of months hasn't been too bad, although I still have places show up. Mostly I use the Biotene rinse.

No problems with Rosacea, yet!

My mouth got very dry when I was on Prednisone for RA. Also smoked at the time. Biotene mouthwash took a little while to work but made a big difference. Recommended by periodontist. I still use it.

Matti:

I've searched the internet for dry mouth due to iron deficiency and I found something about Plummer-Vinson-
Syndrom, it includes a dry mouth.It's due to iron deficiency.
Have you heard about it?

May I ask you how dry your mouth is/was?
And what came first, the dry mouth or the burning?

I almost have no saliva at all.It's very unpleasent.
Up to now I haven't had burning but now it begins because my mouth has become so dry.

And I have another question.
How long have you been taken the iron tablets till you realized an improvement?

Omg this is so awesome to find a site where there are people tat actually know what I'm going through this started 8 months ago it effects my top inside lip and bottom lip burning like someone has struck a match inside my mouth went to every specialist only to be told that there not sure what it is very frustrating i began to give up hope till now thank you so much talking to doctor tomorrow about the iron defencies

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sjogrens-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20020275

I will suggest another condition that causes dry mouth and dry eyes. I have it. Sjogrens syndrome.

Check into the possibility of this.