Just as the name of this condition suggests, dry mouth is a state in which your mouth becomes dehydrated of saliva. There are many reasons that may be causes of post nasal drip; some may be simple and easily treatable, others more complicated and sometimes even serious.
The more simple reasons for mouth to become dry include breathing through your mouth often and over a long period of time. If you have a cold for example, and your nose is too stuffed for you to breathe through it, you have no choice but to breathe through your mouth. The constant chronic post nasal drip airing out of the saliva that your glands produce causes other things to happen, such as bacteria staying inside your mouth, thus producing foul smelling breath. Dry mouth can also be caused by bad oral hygiene, smoking, and too little intake of liquids.
On the other hand, chronic dry mouth can also be just a side affect of more serious illnesses. Diabetics, persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, persons with HIV or AIDS, individuals with Sjorgen’s Syndrome can all suffer from this condition. More often than not, it is the medication that causes the condition. Additionally, nerve damage to the neck or head area can also be causes for dry mouth, as well as any illness that causes dehydration such as blood loss, vomiting, or diarrhea.
While the cure for post nasal drip may include simple changes in lifestyle such as drinking more water, taking proper care of your teeth, tongue and gums, or even just carrying chewing gum all the time, more complicated cures can be obtained via visiting a physician. If you need more thorough information about dry mouth and other conditions that may cause bad breath, you can check the Bad Breath Bible, written by Dr. Harold Katz. This free e-book can tell you all about causes, symptoms and cures of most mouth problems.