Caring for a Dry Mouth and Sore Throat After Surgery

A dry mouth (xerostomia) and sore throat after surgery are common symptoms. You may also have a hoarse voice or bad breath. This can be caused by the type of surgery you have or the use of a breathing tube during surgery.

The severity of symptoms can differ depending on the cause. There are many simple ways to ease your discomfort (like lozenge use) so you can focus on healing. But you can experience complications that require antibiotics, other medications, or even surgery to repair damage.

This article explores common mouth and throat problems that may occur after surgery. It will also cover treatment options and when to reach out to your healthcare provider.

Causes of Post-op Oral Health Issues

Postoperative sore throat (POST) symptoms may result from surgeries that involve the mouth, nose, and throat. Any surgery that requires intubation, which is when a tube is placed in the mouth and down the airway to secure breathing, can also lead to mouth and throat discomfort.

This occurs due to:

• Edema (swelling) in the airway
• Dehydration
• Erosion of the oral mucosa (tissues lining the mouth) due to friction with the breathing tube
• Tissue damage to the trachea (the airway connecting your nose and mouth to lungs). This can be caused by pressure from the tube cuff.

Types of surgeries that may require intubation include emergency, cosmetic, heart, or lung. How long a surgery lasts appears to increase the risk of POST and related dry mouth symptoms.

Managing a Sort Throat After Surgery

POST can lead to symptoms of a hoarse voice and dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. POST typically follows surgery that requires anesthesia and intubation.

Surgeries such as thyroid removal or certain spinal procedures are more likely to put the recurrent laryngeal nerve at risk. People with POST symptoms can develop complications like vocal fold paralysis. Laryngospasm (vocal cords closing) also can occur and affect the larynx, or voicebox, as well as breathing.

In most cases, however, common symptoms of dry mouth, cough, throat pain, and thirst begin to resolve within three to five days. Home remedies can help you to treat symptoms that follow your surgery.

Treating a Sore Throat After Surgery

In general, good mouth care is a crucial first step in reducing uncomfortable symptoms.

• If you are on a ventilator, a machine that helps with breathing, mouth care may be done every two hours by the medical staff. This can help reduce ventilator acquired pneumonia, which is a potentially deadly infection. 
• If you're not on a ventilator, brush your teeth and tongue twice a day to help with dry mouth and lips, as well as bad breath.

Glucocorticoid drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Talk with your healthcare provider about medications for POST. They may recommend:

• Cough drops with benzocaine or menthol in them to help numb the throat and reduce pain.
• Use throat spray, such as Chloraseptic, to coat the throat and minimize irritation.

Gargling with saltwater also can help to relieve soreness or irritation. You also may wish to consider herbal products like arnica, although more research is needed to confirm its benefits.

Managing a Dry Mouth and Lips After Surgery

It's common for people to experience cracked, dry lips and a dry mouth due to intubation. It's important to stay hydrated during the first few days after a procedure, as well as try other remedies.

Treating Dry Mouth After Surgery

A humidifier, a device that adds moisture to the air, can help with dry mouth post-surgery. You may also want to avoid alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine as they can make your mouth more dry.

If your lips are very dry or scaly feeling, gently scrub them with a moist washcloth. This will remove any dead skin.

Apply a generous amount of lip balm or petroleum jelly to help soften lips. Frequent reapplication, along with drinking lots of fluids, will help your lips to feel better.

Managing Bad Breath After Surgery

Saliva helps minimize bacteria in your mouth. When your mouth is dry for a long time, like during surgery, bacteria can multiply rapidly and cause bad breath.

Treating Bad Breath After Surgery

Some drugs used after surgery, like pain medications, also contribute to bad breath, as they dry out the mouth.

To help with bad breath:

• Brush your teeth thoroughly.
• Gargle with mouthwash to reduce bacteria in your mouth and throat.
• Rinse your mouth frequently with water.

Talk with your healthcare provider about the use of sugar-free gum or other products to help keep your mouth tissues moist.

Managing Hoarseness After Surgery

Intubation can lead to vocal cord injuries, which may impact your voice. Most people will see their symptoms resolve in a few days, but others may experience complications that require treatment with antibiotics to prevent infection or even surgical repair.

See your healthcare provider if your hoarseness:

• Doesn't get better
• Worsens over the days following surgery
• Turns into the complete loss of your voice

Drinking hot tea, or tea with honey also may soothe your vocal cords.

Treating Hoarseness After Surgery

Many people benefit from the use of lozenges or soothing foods like popsicles, but it's also important to rest your vocal cords. You also can avoid foods that are difficult to swallow, or that are acidic, like citrus fruits and tomatoes.

Humidity in the air can help, especially if you live in a dry environment. Try to avoid smoke and other irritants.

Complications

Some people will experience complications after intubation and surgery. They include:

• Vocal fold injury, a common occurrence in both adults and children (premature babies especially)
• Dysphagia and aspiration (inhaling gastric and foreign matter into lungs, which can lead to pneumonia)
  
• Laryngospasm
• Laryngeal nerve injury

It's also possible for small cuts or wounds to appear in the mouth or throat tissue due to the instruments used during intubation. This can cause pain or even lead to infection.

After intubation, it typically takes a few hours to days for your throat to heal. In complicated cases, it can take several weeks.

Summary

It is common to have a dry mouth, a sore throat, bad breath, and a hoarse voice after surgery. These symptoms may be caused by the breathing tube, surgical tape, and/or certain medications.

Depending on what you are experiencing, there are several ways to find relief. Be sure to keep an eye on your symptoms and contact your healthcare provider if they get worse.