Recognizing And Combating Dry Mouth
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a symptom that can make chewing, speaking, swallowing, and tasting difficult. It is caused by a lack of saliva. Saliva coats the tissues in your mouth and keeps them moistened. Saliva also helps to moisten food as you chew it. Without a good salivary flow, you are more at risk to getting tooth decay and gum disease because harmful bacteria is allowed to grow quickly under dry conditions in the mouth. This can also lead to bad breath.
What Does Dry Mouth Feel like?
It feels just like how it sounds. Your mouth constantly feels dry, the tissues in your mouth may feel like they are sticking together. Your tongue feels dry and rough. The back of your throat may also feel dry. Your lips may start to crack. A burning sensation may occur because dry oral tissues are easily irritated.
What Causes Dry Mouth?
Dry Mouth is most commonly caused by medications.
-Medicines for allergies, colds, high blood pressure, pain killers, anti-depressant drugs are all medicines that typically cause dry mouth as a side effect. Talk to your physician, sometimes a change in medication can provide some relief.
Radiation treatment for head and neck cancers
-Radiation in the head and neck area can affect the salivary glands and in turn, reduce salivary flow. Impeccable oral hygiene, routine dental visits, care with diet and limitation of sugary/acidic foods, during your radiation treatment can help minimize the impact dry mouth has on your dental health.
Chemotherapy
Stress
What Can I Do to Relieve Dry Mouth?
Drink more fluids to keep mouth moistened.
Use a special gel, rinse, or tablet prescribed by your dentist or found at drugstores to relieve dryness.
Chew sugar free gum or use sugar free hard candy to help increase salivary flow.
Drink water with meals to assist in moistening mouth for chewing and swallowing.
Suck on ice chips
Keep air moist with a humidifier at home.
Use chapstick to keep lips moistened.
Use mouthwash that is alcohol free, alcohol drys out oral tissues.
Avoid caffiene, carbondated drinks, and alcohol, these liquids dry out oral tissues and can increase the risk of tooth decay.
Talk To Your Dentist
It is important to take care of your teeth and gums to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Dry mouth can lead to more dental problems if left unchecked. If you notice that you are suffering from dry mouth, tell your dentist. They can help you come up with an effective plan to fight dry mouth.