Saliva moisturizes and cleanses the oral cavity, thereby preventing the development of bacterial and fungal infections. When the body produces insufficient saliva, a person begins to experience very unpleasant sensations, which doctors call xerostomia. In simple words, this is an unhealthy condition when a person constantly or periodically dries in his mouth. If the cause of xerostomia is not detected in time, it can introduce various inconveniences into the person’s daily life - poor breathing, problems with speech and swallowing. Often salivary deficiency is also accompanied by oral diseases such as dental caries, gingivitis (gum disease) and candidiasis (thrush of the oral cavity).
Symptoms of Xerostomia
Unhealthy dry mouth is most often characterized by the following symptoms:
1. A person is almost always thirsty.
2. The lips crack, it dries strongly in the mouth and throat, and the tongue is covered with a sticky coating.
3. Small abscesses and wounds form in the oral cavity, corners of the lips and tongue.
4. There is a slight burning sensation in the mouth.
5. It becomes difficult to chew food, swallow, and even speak.
6. Bad breath from the mouth, from which neither mint paste nor chewing gum can save.
WHY DRY IN MOUTH?
Unhealthy dry mouth can be a consequence of:
1. A side effect of painkillers and heavy medicines that are used in the treatment of depression, allergies, epilepsy, diarrhea, asthma and several other diseases. This also includes some sedatives and muscle relaxants.
2. The development of any disease or infection (Sjogren's syndrome, HIV, AIDS, diabetes, anemia, hypertension, stroke, mumps, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's).
3. Medical intervention (salivary gland removal or chemotherapy).
4. Damage to nerve tissue.
5. Tobacco abuse.
6. Dehydration due to profuse sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of blood and burns.
WHAT TO DO IF DRY IN MOUTH?
If you are sure that the dryness of the oral cavity is caused by medications or diseases, it is best to consult a doctor. If everything is not so deplorable, then you can try to independently eliminate the reason that the mouth is drying. To restore healthy salivation, you need:
1. Eat more unsweetened fruits or chew sugarless gum .
2. Drink plenty of water to maintain a normal level of humidity in the mouth.
3. If possible, breathe through the nose.
4. Do not abuse salty, sweet and dry foods (crackers, cookies, crackers, dried fruits).
5. Use artificial solutions that replace natural saliva. Most of them can be bought at any large pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription.
6. If possible, reduce the amount of coffee, alcoholic beverages and fruit juices with a high acid content (apple, orange, grape, grapefruit, tomato) consumed.
7. Use gentle toothpaste and rinse your mouth with clean water or a soft solution of salt and baking soda every time before and after a meal.
Some experts recommend using fluoride-containing toothpastes and mouthwashes. However, in recent years, the question has often been raised that this substance does more harm to teeth than good. Therefore, it will never be superfluous to consult a dentist about the proper treatment of xerostomia.