manage dry mouth

Dry mouth (xerostomia) is a condition that occurs

when salivary glands in the mouth don’t work
properly. It causes a parched feeling in the mouth.
Other symptoms include a rough tongue, mouth
sores, and cracked lips. Saliva is a necessary part
of the digestion process. It’s needed to moisten and
break down food and works as a major defense
mechanism to help your body maintain good dental
health. Saliva protects the mouth against gum
disease and tooth decay. While not a serious
medical condition, dry mouth can be a sign of a
larger medical problem.
Causes of dry mouth include:
Side effect of certain medications. Dry mouth
is a common side effect of many prescription
and non-prescription drugs, including drugs
used to treat depression, anxiety, pain,
allergies, and colds (antihistamines and
decongestants), obesity, acne, epilepsy,
hypertension (diuretics), diarrhoea, nausea,
psychotic disorders, urinary incontinence,
asthma (certain bronchodilators), and
Parkinson’s disease. Dry mouth can also be a
side effect of muscle relaxants and sedatives.
Side effect of certain diseases and infections.
Dry mouth can be a side effect of medical
conditions, including Sjögren’s syndrome,
HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes,
anaemia, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis,
hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, stroke,
and mumps.
Side effect of certain medical treatments.
Damage to the salivary glands, the glands that
make saliva, can reduce the amount of saliva
produced. For example, the damage could
stem from radiation to the head and neck, and
chemotherapy treatments, for cancer.
Nerve damage. Dry mouth can be a result of
nerve damage to the head and neck area from
an injury or surgery.
Conditions that lead to dehydration, such as
fever, diabetes, excessive sweating, vomiting,
diarrhoea, blood loss, and burns can cause
dry mouth.
Surgical removal of the salivary glands.
Smoking or chewing tobacco can affect how
much saliva you make and aggravate dry
mouth. Breathing with your mouth open a lot
can also contribute to the problem.
What Are the Symptoms of Dry Mouth?
Common symptoms include:
A sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
Frequent thirst
Sores in the mouth; sores or split skin at the
corners of the mouth; cracked lips
A dry feeling in the throat
A burning or tingling sensation in the mouth
and especially on the tongue
A dry, red, raw tongue
Problems speaking or trouble tasting,
chewing, and swallowing
Hoarseness, dry nasal passages, sore throat
Bad breath
Why Is Dry Mouth a Problem?
Besides causing the symptoms mentioned above,
dry mouth also raises your risk of gingivitis (gum
disease), tooth decay, and mouth infections, such
as thrush. Dry mouth can also make it hard to wear
dentures.
 How Is Dry Mouth Treated?
If you think your dry mouth is caused by certain
medication you’re taking, talk to your doctor. The
doctor may adjust the dose you’re taking or switch
you to a different drug that doesn’t cause dry
mouth. The doctor may also prescribe an oral rinse
to restore mouth moisture. If that doesn’t help, he or
she may prescribe a medication that boosts saliva
production called Salagen.
You can also try these other steps, which may help
improve saliva flow:
Suck on sugar-free candy or chew sugar-free
gum.
Drink plenty of water to help keep your mouth
moist.
Brush with a fluoride toothpaste, use a
fluoride rinse, and visit your dentist regularly.
Breathe through your nose, not your mouth, as
much as possible.
Use a room vaporizer to add moisture to the
bedroom air.
Use an over-the-counter artificial saliva
substitute.
Stay Healthy!!!