All About Dry Mouth: Prevention and Treatment

Do you know that sensation of being so parched that your lips, tongue and mouth go absolutely dry? Well, dry mouth is the same feeling; the only thing is that it is a constant feeling. Dry mouth, known as xerostomia in medical terminology, is a condition wherein the salivary glands do not produce sufficient saliva. The mouth remains dry and brings with it many complications.

Our mouths are meant to remain moist. There is a reason why we have salivary glands, and there are reasons why they secrete saliva. To put it simply, saliva contains enzymes that mix with food, as we chew it, and breaks it down, for ease of digestion. Saliva also prevents the buildup of harmful tooth-destroying bacteria. Dry mouth can affect one’s oral health, causing cavities, plaque and gum disease.

Reasons and Symptoms of Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is most often a side effect of medications, but can also be attributed to advanced age. Cancer patients can develop symptoms when they are in radiation treatment. In a few cases, people develop medical conditions that affect the salivary glands, making them not to produce saliva.
Salivary glands may stop functioning as a result of:

• Medication: Drugs are the most common cause of dry mouth. Drugs used in the treatment of hypertension, depression and anxiety can cause dry mouth. Over the counter medication such as analgesics, antihistamines and decongestants also cause dry mouth
• Aging: Dry mouth is one of the many side effects of growing old. As we grow older, our body stops functioning the way it used to. It is a natural process of aging, that becomes computed by other factors
• Cancer treatment: Radiation and chemotherapy alter the way the body functions. These treatments impair salivary glands, thereby hampering the production of saliva. Often time this is just a temporary reaction
• Damage to the nerves: Damaged nerves can also lead to dry mouth. Surgery or injury in the neck or head region can stop the salivary glands from doing their job
• Medical conditions: Several medical conditions result in dry mouth. The most common of these are autoimmune disorders, HIV, stroke and diabetes, to name a few
• Smoking and drinking: Tobacco and alcohol put you at a greater risk of developing dry mouth
• Recreational drugs: They aren’t just illegal and addictive, they also cause severe dry mouth

It is easy to determine when you are not producing enough saliva. Patients experience the following symptoms, most of the time. In some instances, the symptoms persist throughout the day and night.

• Thick and stringy saliva
• Mouth odour
• Dryness in the mouth
• Trouble chewing, swallowing or speaking
• Overly dry tongue
• Constant dry and sore throat
• Older people may experience difficulty wearing dentures
• Altered sense of taste
• Women wearing lipstick may find it staining the teeth, more often than not

How Dry Mouth Affects Oral health

Saliva has a significant role to play, and insufficient salvia causes symptoms of dry mouth, which in turn hurts oral health. Saliva helps avert incidents of tooth caries. It can attack and neutralise the effects of tooth-damaging acids, created by the harmful bacteria that reside in the mouth.

Saliva is a natural antibacterial agent that controls bacterial growth in the mouth and helps with dental hygiene, by removing food particles that would allow harmful bacteria to multiply and cause tooth decay. Saliva mixes with food, making it easier to chew and gulp down. Furthermore, the enzymes present in it boost digestion. Saliva also allows you to savour your food. It activates the taste buds, allowing you to enjoy different flavours.

A reduction of saliva results in dry mouth, which apart from being an uncomfortable feeling, has a considerable effect on your oral health. It leads to various dental complications affecting your teeth and gums. There is also the fact that you can longer enjoy what you eat, as it hinders your food tasting ability.

Complications due to dry mouth:

• Excessive plaque, signs of gum disease and tooth decay
• Thrush infection in the mouth
• Painful mouth sores
• Dry cracked lips
• Lesions on the ends of the mouth

Treatment for Dry Mouth

Fortunately, dental treatment is available to counter the ill effects of dry mouth. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms that point towards dry mouth, then it is time to visit a dental clinic. Dentique – The Dental Studio has the most exceptional setup and experienced and skilled dentist to address your problems. Make an appointment today, to feel the difference.

Treatment for dry mouth is determined after the root cause is established. Most often avoiding the triggers can get the salivary glands to start producing saliva. A dentist may prescribe saliva substitute to ease the discomfort and prevent oral health from deteriorating.

Use the following tricks to ease the symptoms:

• Increase the intake of water, sip on it frequently, all through the day
• Eat foods that induce saliva – suck on a piece of lemon or sugar-free orange sweets
• Sugar-free chewing gum can stimulate the salivary glands
• Consume more liquidy foods – gravy and curries instead of dry preparations