The Truth About Dry Mouth

For the millions of people who suffer from dry mouth, the lack of saliva is more than just a nuisance. Not only does it reduce the person’s ability to enjoy the taste of his or her favorite foods, but it can also lead to advanced tooth decay as a result of the decreased volume of healthy bacteria in the mouth. In addition, it can impair the ability to swallow and even make digestion more difficult. Those who suffer from the condition need to understand its causes, as well as how best to treat it.

What causes it

This condition, known in medical circles as xerostomia, can be caused by a number of factors. It is one of the common side effects of many medications, and can result from various forms of radiation therapy. It also commonly occurs in people who use tobacco, as well as those who snore excessively. The condition is regularly seen in older people, primarily due to the many different types of medications upon which they often rely.

The symptoms of this disorder can be even more distressing than tooth decay. Without saliva, humans are far more susceptible to infestations of mouth fungi, pain and redness in the throat. In addition, dry and chapped lips are more common, and other conditions can appear when treatment is not provided.

Medical treatments

In most cases, the first approach taken by doctors is to change any medications that are being taken, or to modify the dosages so that the side effects can be lessened. If those side effects persist or if the problem is being caused by something else, physicians will often prescribe various saliva-producing drugs to counteract the effect. In many instances, these simple changes are enough to correct the problem.

Home remedy tips

For most people with this condition, however, there are a number of home remedies that have proven successful in alleviating the problem. Sugar-free gum and candies are often used because they stimulate the production of saliva. Other people achieve results from sucking on ice cubes to ensure that the mouth is always wet. Ginger and a number of other spices are also used by many people as a way to increase saliva.

Other people make lifestyle alterations so that they can remove the causes of the condition. Often times, sleeping with a humidifier, making an effort to quit smoking tobacco, and reducing or avoiding caffeine consumption are the only changes that need to be made to find relief.

Healthy teeth

During any attempt to treat this condition it is important for patients to focus even more intently on maintaining the health of their teeth. These efforts should include the use of a good fluoride toothpaste, as well as non-alcoholic mouthwashes. In some cases, dentists will need to fit patients with fluoride coverings to ensure that teeth are protected during critical night time hours.

Patients should not panic when they discover that they have xerostomia. The fact is that most cases can be effectively eliminated with simple changes. Those that cannot be eliminated can at least be treated so that the effects are dramatically reduced. To do so, however, requires timely intervention by competent medical professionals. As a result, patients who experience the symptoms of dry mouth should consult their doctors immediately.

Biotene provides a range of oral hygiene products to help relieve the symptoms of the common issue of Xerostomia. If you have sorenss and/or redness in the mouth, trouble speaking or other symptom speak to your healthcare professional to learn more.