Surely for many, the problem of dry mouth is not something new. Most people have experienced a dry tongue in childhood or as early as adulthood. This article will tell you in detail about when you should not worry about a symptom of a dry tongue, about the causes and possible pathologies. In addition, it will be possible to learn about the methods and methods of treating an ailment with the help of medical and traditional medicine.
Causes of dry tongue
Xerostomia - this is what people call a dry tongue sensation in medicine. It can be both a temporary phenomenon and a symptom of a serious illness.
The reason for the dryness of the tongue is, first of all, a decrease in the level or even a complete cessation of the produced saliva. Ignore this symptom is not advised and it is important to immediately contact a specialist.
One of the most common causes of dry tongue at night is snoring and mouth breathing. In this case, dryness will be observed only at night and in the morning. A cause of snoring can be a running cold, allergies, or damage to the nasal septum.
Sometimes the cause of dry tongue is the development of an infection in the body. In this case, in addition to the aforementioned symptom, general weakness and hanging temperature will be observed. It is worth paying attention to the fact that dryness is one of the main symptoms of mumps or mumps, which affects the salivary glands of a person.
The cause of a white and dry tongue can be a malfunction in the digestive tract (temporary or chronic). In addition, the passage of a chemotherapy course has a tremendous effect on fluid production in the body.
Smoking and general dehydration caused by heat, poisoning, and excessive sweating can also cause a dry and rough tongue.
Dryness is sometimes not the only unpleasant symptom. It is important to know that due to the drying of the oral cavity and mucous membranes, a white coating may appear on a dry tongue. The cause of this phenomenon may be dehydration, diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal tract or gall bladder pathology. Women at the same time should not be afraid of the appearance of dry tongue during pregnancy - this is a completely normal reaction of the body, and to prevent the appearance of an unpleasant sensation, doctors recommend drinking more clean water.
Possible diseases
It is important to immediately understand whether a dry tongue has become a symptom of any disease. The cause of the disease most often lies in diseases of the oral cavity, infections or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Medicine knows a number of diseases, the list of symptoms of which includes a feeling of dry tongue. For example, in diabetes mellitus or kidney disease, dry tongue is accompanied by impaired taste and sometimes a sharp metallic taste in the mouth.
The cause can also be dehydration caused by diseases of the thyroid gland, gastritis, ulcer, appendicitis or infection in the digestive tract. If the gallbladder is disturbed, dryness is accompanied by a feeling of bitterness in the mouth in the morning.
The presence of benign or malignant tumors in the body is also the cause of the malfunction of the salivary glands. If dryness occurs in the oral cavity along with symptoms such as sweating, lack of appetite, diarrhea, anxiety, then perhaps the reason lies in the problem of the thyroid gland. In addition to these diseases, sometimes dry tongue is observed in patients with hypotension, HIV infection, anemia, Alzheimer's disease or Sjogren's syndrome.
Specialist consultation
A number of specialists are involved in identifying the causes and eliminating the dry tongue, depending on what side symptoms were observed in the patient. The dentist, ENT, endocrinologist, etc. can engage in treatment.
First of all, if a symptom is found, it is necessary to consult a therapist for a preliminary diagnosis and referral to the right specialist. Perhaps the patient will need a consultation of several doctors. ENT will have to conduct a thorough examination of the oral and nasal cavities. If the cause of the symptom is identified, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.
Sometimes the discomfort is caused by inflammation of the teeth and gums, then a dentist consultation is necessary. Periodontal diseases, glossitis, stomatitis and even caries are considered diseases of the oral cavity that can provoke the appearance of dryness.
In some cases, a symptom that appears in the oral cavity is an indicator of the disease in a completely different part of the body. An additional reason for visiting an endocrinologist may be the appearance of other symptoms along with a dry tongue, such as frequent urination, weight loss, sleep disturbance, rashes and weakness.
Diagnosis and identification
Quickly determining the cause of dry tongue is quite difficult, since this symptom can be a sign of one of many diseases. Therefore, it will be necessary to fully diagnose the body.
Experts advise to undergo examinations at the ENT specialist, dentist, gastroenterologist and endocrinologist. Each of which will collect the necessary medical history, conduct an examination and either prescribe treatment or refer the patient to another specialist.
Laboratory tests that must be taken with a dry tongue are a biochemical blood test, an analysis of urine and feces. In addition, it is often necessary to conduct an ultrasound diagnosis of the abdominal cavity, ECG, endoscopy, and sometimes computed tomography of the head.
Drug treatment
Based on the correct diagnosis, only a doctor can prescribe an effective individual course of drug treatment. Most often, it includes the use of antiseptic drugs on the affected areas (Metrogil Denta, Miramistin), hygienic care of the oral cavity by frequent rinsing of the oral cavity with soda or medicinal herbs (calendula, celandine, chamomile).
In cases where the cause of dryness is an allergy, the patient is prescribed antihistamines and enterosorbents. If the sensation was caused by the development of infection in the orgasm, then a course of antibacterial drugs is necessary.
Treatment with folk remedies
Alternative medicine methods are also aimed at eliminating the resulting pathogenic environment in the oral cavity. So, to facilitate the general condition, it is advised to prepare a decoction of oak bark. To prepare it, 20 grams of bark must be boiled in 500 ml of water, rinsing the oral cavity with a decoction is necessary every four hours.
It has a calming and antibacterial effect of a decoction of St. John's wort, immortelle and chamomile. You need to take a teaspoon of dried flowers of each of the ingredients and dissolve boiling water in a glass, insist 15 minutes and rinse your mouth with it no more than three times a day.
The easiest way is to prepare a soda-salt rinse. You need to dissolve a teaspoon of soda and sea salt in a glass of water, mix, rinse with a mixture every two hours.
Oral hygiene during treatment
It is not enough to find the causes and eliminate the dryness of the tongue, it is important to observe oral hygiene, both during treatment and after its termination. During treatment, it is necessary to use only purified water, refuse coffee, tea and other drinks. It is advisable to drink food with a small amount of water and refuse in the diet from spicy, salty and sweet.
Chewing gum and smoking must be ruled out. Instead, it is recommended to make decoctions according to the recipes of traditional medicine and rinse the oral cavity for a speedy recovery. Especially useful infusions based on mint and cinnamon. Do not forget about the usual oral hygiene. To brush your teeth and tongue at least three times a day, use rinsing agents and dental floss.
Dentist Tips
Dentists say with one voice: in order not to think about the cause and elimination of dry tongue at night, you need to take care of oral hygiene throughout the day. That is, daily brushing your teeth regularly with a paste without sodium lauryl sulfate, using dental floss, restricting your intake of alcohol, sweet and spicy foods.
In addition, it is necessary to visit the dentist at least once a year for a scheduled examination. Thanks to such oral health checks , a serious problem can be prevented.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is worth saying that a dry mouth after sleep, a white coating or peeling are all unpleasant symptoms that cause a lot of inconvenience. Sometimes dry mouth worries people who have undergone a number of stressful situations, then it is necessary to take sedatives and increase the amount of fluid consumed. Periodically, dryness is the body's reaction to taking certain groups of drugs.
Even all the usual snoring at night can be a sign of serious pathology. If an increase in the volume of drinking water, refusal of alcohol, spicy, salty foods and cessation of smoking do not help get rid of the disease, then it is likely that the reason lies in more serious diseases. To avoid the development of complications, you must immediately consult a specialist. After the initial examination and medical examination, he will make the correct diagnosis and choose the optimal course of treatment.