Dry mouth. It sounds so completely harmless that the solution seems so completely obvious — drink water. Drinking a glass of water can help keep your mouth moist but there may be an underlying problem and if left unchecked, the seemingly usual occurrence can lead to serious dental issues from tooth decay to gum disease. Find out what it means to have dry mouth and the possible treatments you might need with the following information.
Dry mouth is also known as xerostomia. When the mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva, which prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth, the mouth gets dry. There are several causes to dry mouth and these can include complications from other medical treatments, taking certain medications, the presence of disease or infection, nerve damage, dehydration, and smoking. Radiation from chemotherapy can reduce the amount of saliva being produced; medication used for depression, allergies, or hypertension can cause dry mouth; and medical conditions like Alzheimer’s, cystic fibrosis, HIV/AIDS, and Parkinson’s can also cause dry mouth.
When your mouth is always dry, you’ll feel a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth and throat. You may also experience sores in the mouth, cracked lips, or split skin at the corners of your mouth. You may also feel a tingling sensation on the tongue. You may, additionally, have difficulty chewing, tasting, and swallowing as well as find it hard to speak. All in all you’ll just feel awful and uncomfortable.
Treatments will vary depending on the cause behind your dry mouth. It will involve managing the condition that causes it, increasing the flow of saliva, and averting tooth decay. If your physician recognises certain medications are causing the condition, the dosage may be lowered or the medication may be replaced. If it’s just a simple case of dehydration, then you’ll just have to drink plenty of water. Your dentist may also prescribe specially formulated mouthwash, toothpaste, and moisturising gels, along with a drug that could improve the production of saliva.
There are certain things you can do that will help manage your dry mouth. Chewing on sugar-free gum and sucking on sugarless hard candies can stimulate saliva flow. Avoiding salty, dry foods like crackers, cookies, or dried fruit and beverages with caffeine and alcohol can minimise dry mouth. Using moisturiser on your lips, a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride-containing toothpaste can reduce irritation associated with dry mouth.
Dry mouth? When you start to feel any of the symptoms mentioned here, do as much as you can to manage and minimise the condition. By knowing more, you’ll be able to prevent any future dental problems caused by chronic dry mouth. And don’t forget to consult a dentist today.
