Dry Mouth Causes And Treatment

What Is Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth also called xerostomia is a condition of less saliva in your mouth. This is happening when salivary glands in mouth not making enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. Let us discuss the causes of dry mouth in detail.

The major part of saliva is water. 98% of saliva is water and it contains antibacterial compounds, various enzymes and many other important substances like mucus, electrolytes etc. The antibacterial property helps to prevent tooth decay by limiting bacterial gro Dry mouth with and washing food particles on the teeth. It helps you to chew and swallow food and aid in digestion.

The decrease of saliva can impact your teeth, gums, appetite, malnutrition and general health. It also causes difficulty to speak and eat. Extreme condition and salivary gland dysfunction may produce anxiety problem, mouth and throat disorders. This condition will significantly affect a person’s life.

dry mouth

Dry Mouth Symptoms

If you’re not producing enough saliva, you may notice these signs and symptoms all or most of the time:
• Dryness in mouth
• Stickiness in the mouth
• Thick and stringy saliva
• Bad breath
• Difficulty in chewing, speaking and swallowing
• Increased need for the liquid to swallow something
• Dry feeling or a sore throat and hoarseness
• Frequent thirst
• Dry or grooved tongue
• A weak sense of taste
• Chapped or cracked lips
• Pale gums
• Headaches, dizziness
• A persistent cough
• Mouth sores and ulcers
• Difficulty wearing dentures
• White tongue because of fungal infection
• Red/bleeding gums, gingivitis, and periodontitis
• Tooth decay around the root surfaces or gum line

Is Dry Mouth Common?

Dry mouth is more dominant in women than men. About 10% of the people are experiencing this problem. Disorders of saliva production affect mostly on elderly people and on people who are taking medications frequently.

When To Consult A Doctor For Dry Fouth Treatment

If you are experiencing persistent problems and symptoms related to dry mouth, consult a doctor without much delay. Treatment for dry mouth depends on the cause.

Get an appointment and consult the best dentist at All Smiles Dental Spa Dubai.

Causes Of Dry Mouth

When salivary gland not working properly and not making enough saliva, dry mouth occurs. Salivary gland dysfunction may cause due to different types of medications. Drugs for allergies, cold, high blood pressure, etc. can affect salivary glands. Aging can also cause dry mouth. Nerve damage in the head or neck region can result in dry mouth. Some medical treatments like cancer radiation or chemotherapy can hurt salivary glands and cause saliva to thicken. Diabetes, yeast infection in the mouth, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, HIV etc. cause ‘dry mouth’. Snoring and breathing mouth open can also cause dry mouth. Tobacco and alcohol use will increase dry mouth symptoms. Recreational drug use can cause severe dry mouth and damages to the teeth.

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