Dry mouth, which occurs when the saliva in the mouth decreases, can develop due to many reasons. This dryness, also known as xerostomia, can cause tooth decay and infections in the mouth. In order to get rid of dry mouth, which is also a symptom of some serious disorders, the underlying cause must be determined. Why does dry mouth occur and how is it treated? The answer to such questions is very important.
Dry mouth refers to a condition in which the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva to keep the inside of the mouth wet. By neutralizing the acids produced by bacteria, saliva limits bacterial production and contributes to preventing tooth decay. It also improves taste buds and makes chewing and swallowing easier. In addition, the enzymes in saliva support the digestive system. Reduced saliva and the resulting dry mouth will have a major impact on dental and gum health, appetite and food intake. Dry mouth generally manifests itself as side effects of certain medications, problems caused by aging or as a result of cancer treatment.
What are the Symptoms of Dry Mouth?
If not enough saliva is produced in the mouth, it can lead to the following symptoms;
- Feeling dry or sticky in the mouth
- Constant thirst
- Tingling on the tongue
- Growth on the salivary glands
- Saliva with a thick and fibrous appearance
- Bad breath
- Difficulty chewing, speaking and swallowing
- Sore throat and hoarseness
- Dry or grooved tongue
- A differentiated sense of taste
- Prosthesis fitting problems
What Causes Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth is a common problem and there are many conditions that cause dry mouth. The reasons that cause this dryness are as follows;
Medications: Some medications used for the treatment of depression, hypertension and anxiety , as well as antihistamines, decongestants, muscle relaxants and painkillers can cause dry mouth.
Aging: Many individuals suffer from dry mouth as they get older. Contributing factors include the use of certain medications, differences in the body's ability to process medications, poor nutrition and long-term health problems.
Cancer treatment: Chemotherapy drugs change the texture of saliva and the rate at which it is produced. Radiation or radiation therapy to the head and neck can damage the salivary gland, leading to a marked reduction in saliva production.
Nerve damage: An injury or surgery that causes nerve damage in the head and neck can cause dry mouth.
Other health conditions: Diabetes, stroke, fungal infection in the mouth or autoimmune conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, HIV/AIDS can cause dry mouth.
Nasal congestion: Mouth breathing, snoring and dry air in the room can also cause dry mouth.
Tobacco and alcohol use: Drinking alcohol, smoking or chewing tobacco can increase the symptoms of dry mouth.
Substance use: Using methamphetamines causes intense dry mouth, also referred to as "meth mouth", which has a detrimental effect on the teeth. Cannabis can also cause dry mouth.
How is dry mouth diagnosed?
In order to identify conditions that cause dry mouth, medical history and all medications used together with over-the-counter medications should be reviewed. Along with this, a detailed mouth check is useful.
Sometimes blood tests, scans to visualize the salivary glands or tests to measure how much saliva is produced may be needed to determine the cause of dry mouth. Newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus can cause dry mouth, which can lead to constant trips to the toilet and drinking lots of water, so blood glucose levels should definitely be checked. In addition, thyroid diseases and calcium deficiencies can cause dry mouth. Blood levels should be checked.
How is dry mouth treated?
Determining the treatment should be applied depending on the cause of dry mouth. The specialist or dentist can apply the following conditions;
- Medications that cause dry mouth should be changed. If the medication cannot be changed, perhaps the dose can be reduced.
- Products that moisturize the mouth may be preferred (mouthwash, artificial saliva or moisturizing products).
- Medicines that stimulate saliva may be preferred.
- Drugs with fluoride content or weekly chlorhexidine can be used to protect teeth and prevent caries.
What is good for dry mouth?
Drinking plenty of water to moisturize the mouth, drinking drinks that do not contain sugar at intervals, water can be consumed during meals to contribute to chewing and swallowing. Along with this, those that are good for dry mouth are as follows;
- Chewing gum without sugar additives can be useful.
- Products with xylitol content also contribute to preventing caries. However, in some individuals, xylitol in sugar-free chewing gums may cause gas or diarrhea when consumed in excess.
- Breathing should be through the nose, not the mouth. If snoring leads to breathing through the mouth all night, the person should receive treatment.
- The sleeping room should be humidified at night.
- Creams rich in vitamin E can be preferred for dry lips.
- Spicy foods should be avoided and foods should not be consumed too hot.
- The lips should be moisturized to alleviate dry or cracked areas.
