There is hardly a person who has never felt a dry mouth. But most people do not attach much importance to this symptom, believing that it is due to hot weather, salted or spicy food and lack of drinking. Quite often this turns out to be true, and after taking enough water, the discomfort disappears. But you should be aware that a frequent feeling of dry mouth, the causes of which are not related to everyday problems, may indicate disturbances in the functioning of body systems.
Normal salivation
A feeling of dryness indicates insufficient secretion in the salivary glands. The medical name for this problem is xerostomia. It is not considered a separate disease, but is a symptom of various diseases.
In a healthy person, enough saliva is secreted to protect the oral cavity from a number of problems:
- it does not allow ulcers and wounds to develop in the process of friction;
- neutralizes the effect of acids and bacterial flora;
- starts the processes of remineralization of tooth enamel;
- eliminates the annoying aftertaste of food;
- involved in the process of splitting food.
Since xerostomia can be considered a marker for health problems, eliminating it with abundant fluid intake is not enough. Be sure to look for the causes of dry mouth and deal with them.
Additional symptoms
Particular attention should be paid to your health if dry mouth is repeated many times and is accompanied by the following additional sensations:
- Saliva becomes sticky, it seems that if the mouth is closed for a long time, then the tongue stuck to the sky.
- There is a burning sensation and itching in the area of the tongue or in the oral cavity.
- There is an unpleasant odor.
- It becomes difficult to chew, swallow, speak.
- Disturbed perception of taste.
- The tongue becomes rough and turns red or plaque.
With these symptoms, you need to understand why dry mouth occurs, what disease it causes. Only a qualified doctor can do this. The primary reception is usually carried out by the therapist. It determines which specialist should be contacted for further diagnosis and treatment.
Categories of causes
A generally accepted classification of the causes of xerostomia is not made, just as there is no complete list of these causes. To make it easier and more convenient, many doctors divide into two main categories:
- Pathological causes, that is, xerostomia as a symptom of a disease.
- Non-pathological causes, that is, xerostomia, as a result of the patient's lifestyle and lifestyle.
To which category the causes of dry mouth are attributed, the doctor determines as a result of a survey and examination of the patient, as well as the results of analyzes.
Pathological reasons. Pathology of the salivary glands
The causes of dry mouth can be dozens of diseases. At the same time, xerostomia can be a clear symptom or a concomitant factor, or it can be a rare partial manifestation of the disease. Since it is impossible to describe all diseases that can provoke the problem of salivation, it is worth considering those for which this is a characteristic sign.
So, the patient complains of dry mouth. What disease cause is this problem most often? According to statistics, this is the pathology of the salivary glands. We can talk about mumps, sialostasis and sialadenitis and other diseases.
Mumps and sialodenitis cause inflammation of the salivary glands. Sialostasis is a delay or complication of the secretion of salivary secretion as a result of the formation of salivary stone, ingestion of a foreign body into the duct, or narrowing of the salivary duct.
Infections
Permanent dry mouth can accompany flu, sore throat, acute respiratory viral infections and other infectious diseases, which are characterized by high fever. Due to fluctuations in body temperature, patients sweat a lot. Replenishing fluid loss in the body during this period is very difficult. As a result, thirst and dryness.
Regular drinking and proper medical prescribing can eliminate the root cause (illness), and dry mouth will not bother you anymore.
Stomatitis
The catarrhal form of stomatitis affects the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. Redness appears, and teeth are imprinted on the inner surface of the cheeks due to swelling of the tissues. The inflammatory process disrupts the normal function of salivation, causing dry mouth. The disease is treatable. But here it is important to see a doctor on time. The specialist in time identifies the causes, and the elimination of dry mouth, along with the main problem (stomatitis) is not delayed in time. If the process is started, then stomatitis can go into a hemorrhagic or erosive-ulcerative form. In this case, dry mouth will only increase, since the production of saliva will almost cease.
Endocrine diseases: diabetes mellitus and thyrotoxicosis
Permanent dry mouth often accompanies patients with diabetes. As a result of absolute or relative insulin deficiency in the body, carbohydrate and other metabolic processes are disturbed. The functions of the salivary glands are suppressed as a result of a decrease in fluid in the patient's body. That is why the appearance of thirst and xerostomia should alert a person and encourage him to undergo a medical examination.
In some patients, the thyroid gland increases hormone production, causing thyrotoxicosis. This disease can be a complication of diffuse toxic and nodular hypothyroid goiter. In this case, metabolic processes are also disturbed and excess liquid is released (heavy sweating). One of the symptoms is dry mouth. The elimination of one symptom is impractical, it is necessary to undergo a full treatment and eliminate the problem as a whole.
Injuries and surgical interventions
Traumatic disorders of the hyoid, parotid or jaw area often cause dry mouth. The symptom is eliminated as it recovers from the injury. Xerostomia for such injuries is associated with tissue breaks and damage to the ducts of the salivary glands.
In some diseases, surgical interventions are performed that affect the state of the salivary system. Sometimes the salivary glands are removed in principle due to cancer or inflammation.
Systemic diseases
Many complex systemic diseases, along with severe symptoms, also cause dry mouth. Such, for example, include scleroderma, Sjogren's disease, cystic fibrosis and others. Autoimmune diseases cannot be completely cured, but treatment and supportive therapy can avoid complications leading to disability.
Processes that increase fluid loss
Bitterness and dry mouth can occur in many processes leading the body to profuse fluid loss. Xerostomia often accompanies acute diarrhea, vomiting, high body temperature. This symptom can occur with bleeding and burns. In many cases, drinking plenty of fluids is not enough to restore fluid balance. Such patients are prescribed intravenous infusion (dropper).
It is important to understand that, on the basis of xerostomia, it is impossible to self-diagnose the above diseases. This symptom can tell the specialist in which direction to look for the underlying disease, and nothing more.
Non-pathological causes. Bad habits and lifestyle
A single or infrequently repeated dry mouth can occur as a result of a person’s bad habits. This problem is common among smokers and people who abuse alcohol. Xerostomia sometimes haunts coffee lovers.
Non-compliance with the drinking regimen also upsets the fluid balance and leads to dehydration. Especially if a person drinks little after spicy or salty foods. To avoid dry mouth, it is necessary to increase water intake in the hot season.
Environment
The lack of saliva production can be felt not only in the summer heat, when the body overheats and dehydrates. The temperature in the room where a person lives or works has a great influence on this process. In winter, when heating is turned on, many overheat their apartments or offices. This overdries the indoor air, which affects the condition of the mucous membranes. It is advisable to maintain a comfortable temperature, use humidifiers and drink mineral (non-carbonated) or boiled water. In this case, dry mouth, caused by exposure to environmental factors, will pass.
Xerostomia in the morning and at night
Dry mouth at night and in the morning can have different reasons. Unpleasant sensations in the morning are most likely due to local causes. Perhaps in a dream a person breathes through the mouth due to snoring, curvature of the nasal septum, or for another reason. Such xerostomia quickly wakes up after awakening. But dry mouth in the night can indicate not only the drying of the mucous membrane during sleep or overeating at night, but also serious violations in the functioning of the organs and nervous system.
Medication xerostomia
Many medicines cause a side effect associated with dry mouth. This applies to antitumor, psychotropic and diuretic drugs. A similar problem can cause vasoconstrictor, antihistamines and antihypertensive drugs. In most cases, this symptom does not require discontinuation of drug therapy. Fluid intake should be increased, and dry mouth will disappear after completion of treatment.
Xerostomia during pregnancy
Even with the normal development of pregnancy, women often experience discomfort, including dry mouth. If this condition is temporary and passes after the normalization of the drinking regime, then it should not cause concern. Another thing is dry mouth in the second half of pregnancy, combined with nausea, swelling and vomiting. This may be a symptom of gestosis (late toxicosis), which is dangerous to the health and life of both the mother and the fetus. If xerostomia appears late in pregnancy, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Attentiveness to your condition can greatly simplify the treatment of the most complex diseases. A frequent feeling of dry mouth can be an alarming symptom that you should pay attention to.