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Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a condition in which the salivary glands in your mouth do not produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. Dry mouth is frequently caused by a side effect of certain drugs, age difficulties, or radiation therapy for cancer. Dry mouth is sometimes caused by a disorder that directly affects the salivary glands.
Saliva prevents tooth decay by neutralizing bacterial acids, reducing bacterial development, and washing away food particles. Saliva also improves your flavor and makes it easier to chew and swallow. Furthermore, salivary enzymes aid in digestion.
Reduced saliva and dry mouth can range from being a minor annoyance to having a significant influence on your overall health, the health of your teeth and gums, as well as your appetite and enjoyment of food.
The cause of dry mouth determines the treatment.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF XEROSTOMIA?
If you don't produce enough saliva, you may have the following indications and symptoms all or most of the time:
- Dryness or a sticky sensation in your mouth
- Saliva that appears to be thick and stringy
- Breath that stinks
- Chewing, speaking, and swallowing difficulties
- Hoarseness and a dry or sore throat
- Tongue, dry or grooved
- A new perception of flavor
- Denture wear problems
Furthermore, dry mouth can cause lipstick to adhere to the teeth.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF XEROSTEMIA?
Dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands in the mouth do not produce enough saliva to keep the mouth moist. These glands may not function adequately as a result of:
- Medications: Dry mouth is a side effect of hundreds of medications, including several over-the-counter treatments. Some of the pharmaceuticals used to treat depression, high blood pressure, and anxiety, as well as some antihistamines, decongestants, muscle relaxants, and pain relievers, are among the more likely to cause issues.
- Use of tobacco and alcohol: Dry mouth symptoms can be exacerbated by drinking alcohol and smoking or chewing tobacco.
- Use of recreational drugs: Methamphetamine usage can result in severe dry mouth and tooth destruction, a condition known as "meth mouth." Marijuana can also induce dry mouth.
- Aging: As people get older, many of them have dry mouth. Certain drugs, changes in the body's ability to metabolize medication, poor diet, and having long-term health problems are all contributing causes.
- Cancer treatment: Chemotherapy medicines can alter the composition and quantity of saliva produced. This could be transient, with normal salivary flow returning following treatment. Radiation treatments to the head and neck can damage the salivary glands, resulting in a significant decrease in saliva production. Depending on the radiation dose and area treated, this could be transient or permanent.
- Nerve damage: Dry mouth might be caused by an injury or surgery that causes nerve damage in your head and neck area.
- Other medical conditions: Dry mouth can be caused by a variety of medical illnesses, including diabetes, stroke, yeast infection (thrush) in the mouth, or Alzheimer's disease, as well as autoimmune diseases such Sjogren's syndrome or HIV/AIDS. Dry mouth can also be caused by snoring and breathing with your mouth open.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF XEROSTOMIA?
If you don't produce enough saliva and acquire dry mouth, you may experience:
- Plaque accumulation, dental decay, and gum disease
- Sores in the mouth
- Yeast infection in your mouth (thrush)
- Sores or split skin around your mouth, as well as cracked lips
- Poor nutrition as a result of chewing and swallowing difficulties
HOW IS XEROSTOMIA DIAGNOSED?
Your doctor will most likely evaluate your medical history, all drugs you're taking, including over-the-counter medications, and inspect your mouth to establish the source of your dry mouth.
To determine the cause of your dry mouth, you may need blood tests, imaging scans of your salivary glands, or tests that measure how much saliva you make. If your doctor suspects Sjogren's syndrome is causing your dry mouth, a small sample of cells (biopsy) obtained from salivary glands in your lip may be sent for testing.
HOW IS XEROSTOMIA TREATED?
Your treatment will be determined by the reason of your dry mouth. Your physician or dentist may:
- Discontinue any drugs that cause dry mouth: If your doctor suspects that medicine is to blame, he or she may alter your dosage or switch you to a different medication that does not cause dry mouth.
- Make recommendations for mouth moisturizers: These can include prescription or over-the-counter mouth rinses, artificial saliva, or mouth moisturizers. Mouthwashes developed for dry mouth, particularly those containing xylitol, can be effective, such as Biotene Dry Mouth Oral Rinse or Act Dry Mouth Mouthwash, which also provide tooth decay protection.
If you have severe dry mouth, your doctor or dentist may recommend that you:
- Prescribe a saliva-stimulating drug: To boost saliva production, your doctor may prescribe pilocarpine (Salagen) or cevimeline (Evoxac).
- Keep your teeth safe: Your dentist may fit you with fluoride trays, which you fill with fluoride and wear over your teeth at night to prevent cavities. To control cavities, your dentist may also prescribe using a chlorhexidine rinse once a week.
HOME REMEDIES FOR XEROSTEMIA?
In addition to your doctor's instructions, the following strategies may help ease your dry mouth symptoms:
- Drink water or sugar-free drinks throughout the day to keep your mouth moist, and drink water throughout meals to help with chewing and swallowing.
- Suck on sugar-free hard candies or chew sugar-free gum. Xylitol-containing products may also help prevent cavities. However, xylitol, which is commonly present in sugar-free gum and sugar-free candies, might induce flatulence or diarrhea in some people if ingested in high amounts.
- Try xylitol-containing saliva substitutes like Mouth Kote or Oasis Moisturizing Mouth Spray, or carboxymethylcellulose or hydroxyethyl cellulose like Biotene OralBalance Moisturizing Gel.
- Breathe through your nose rather than your mouth. If your snoring forces you to breathe through your mouth at night, you should get help.
- A room humidifier will add moisture to the air at night.
- Moisturize your lips to relieve dry or cracked skin.
Avoid products that may aggravate your symptoms. Among them are:
- Caffeine and alcoholic beverages: These products can cause irritation and dryness. Avoid using mouthwash containing alcohol.
- Tobacco: Stop smoking or chewing tobacco since it might dry and irritate your mouth.
- Antihistamines and decongestants sold over-the-counter: These can aggravate your dry mouth.
- Foods and candies that are high in sugar or acid: This increases the likelihood of tooth decay. Avoid hot or salty foods as well, as these might cause irritation.
Saliva is necessary for the health of your teeth and mouth. Taking the following precautions to safeguard your teeth may also assist with your dry mouth:
- Brush and floss your teeth with fluoride toothpaste. Consult your dentist to see if you could benefit from prescription fluoride toothpaste, betaine toothpaste, or a tooth gel to neutralize bacteria acids.
- Before going to bed, use a fluoride rinse or brush-on fluoride gel.
- To help prevent tooth decay, see your dentist at least twice a year to have your teeth checked and plaque cleared.