1 of every 4-5 adults suffers with dry mouth symptoms
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Saliva does more than keep your mouth wet. It protects teeth from decay, helps heal sores in your mouth, and prevents infection by controlling bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the mouth.
Saliva helps digest food and helps us chew and swallow. It is involved in taste perception as well. Each of these functions of saliva is hampered when a person has dry mouth.
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Help Yourself...
Avoid caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. All of them dry out your mouth!
Remember that salty or spicy foods may cause pain in a dry mouth!
Because dry mouth inhibits the cleansing properties of saliva, be sure to maintain a good oral homecare routine to prevent decay and gum disease. Always use a fluoride toothpaste to help protect the teeth and see your dentist regularly! |
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Over a lifetime the average American spends 38.5 days brushing their teeth
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Greetings!
Does your mouth sometimes feel like the Sahara Desert? You may just need a glass of water...or you may have xerostomia. Xerostomia is the medical term for "Dry Mouth" and while it is not generally a life-threatening condition, it can be a chronic, quality-of-life-altering concern. |
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What is Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth is the feeling that there is not enough saliva in your mouth. Almost everyone experiences it at one time or another but if you have dry mouth all the time, see your dentist.
Dry mouth can be uncomfortable. Some people notice a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth. Others notice a burning feeling or difficulty while eating. The throat may feel dry, too, making swallowing difficult and choking common. Also, people with dry mouth may get mouth sores, cracked lips, and a dry, rough tongue.
Many older adults have dry mouth but it is not a normal part of aging. It has several causes, and the treatment depends on the cause.
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Causes
Dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands are not working properly. There are several things that may cause this to happen.
- There are over 1800 prescription drugs that can cause dry mouth! They either decrease the flow of saliva or change the composition of it so that it can't do it's job properly.
- Disease can cause dry mouth. It is a symptom of diseases such as Parkinson's, diabetes and Sjogren's syndrome
- Injury to the head or neck can damage nerves that tell the salivary glands to produce saliva.
- Certain cancer treatments can affect the salivary glands. Head and neck radiation treatments can cause the glands to produce little or no saliva. Chemotherapy can cause the glands to produce thicker saliva which makes the mouth feel dry and sticky |
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Treatment
If your dry mouth is caused by medications, your doctor may be able to decrease or change your medication.
If your glands are still producing saliva but it's not enough, your doctor may give you medication to help your glands work better.
Drinking water or sugar-free drinks will help with eating and swallowing. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless hard candy will help with saliva production.
Use a humidifier at night to increase moisture in the air while you sleep.
You may need an artificial wetting agent, such as rinses or chewing gums to make you more comfortable. Ask your dentist to recommend products that may help. | |
| If dry mouth is a problem for you, please call or come into the office.
Yours in Dental Health,
Alan M. Smolen, DDS | |
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