xerostomia
Saliva plays a role in limiting bacterial
growth, preventing tooth decay, cleaning the mouth of leftovers, facilitating ingesting
food, and aiding food digestion. Lack of saliva can cause problems, such as dry
mouth and increase the risk of gum inflammation,
cavities, to fungal infections in the mouth.
Causes of Dry Mouth
Dry mouth occurs
when the salivary glands are not able to produce sufficient amounts of saliva.
This condition can be caused by:
- Stress and anxiety
- Habits of breathing through the
mouth, for example, due to nasal congestion or snoring
- Part of the ageing process further
affects the body's ability to absorb drugs, lack of nutrients, or chronic
diseases.
- Side effects of taking medications,
such as diuretics,
antidepressants, antihistamines,
muscle relaxants, or pain relievers
- Smoking,
chewing tobacco, or consuming alcoholic beverages
- Certain diseases, such as canker
sores, Sjogren's syndrome, anaemia, stroke, diabetes,
rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer's disease, mumps, hypertension,
or HIV/AIDS
- Injury or complications of surgery
that cause nerve damage in the neck and head
- Chemotherapy or radiotherapy on the head and neck
Symptoms of Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is one
of the complaints and symptoms that occur due to salivary glands not producing
enough saliva. When experiencing dry mouth, a person can find it difficult to
swallow, bad breath arises, and experience disorders of the taste buds.
Here are several
complaints and symptoms of dry mouth due to lack of saliva:
- Hoarseness
- Saliva feels thick
- The nasal passages feel dry.
- Dry and chapped lips
- Dry throat and sore
- The inside of the mouth feels sticky.
- Hot sensations in the mouth,
especially on the tongue
- Dry tongue, reddish-looking, and
feels rough
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing and
talking
- Disturbances in the taste bud
In addition to
the above complaints, dry mouth can also make it difficult for sufferers to
install dentures.
When to go to the doctor
Check with your doctor if the above symptoms appear, significantly if
the symptoms do not subside even though they have been handled independently,
or complications arise due to dry mouth.
An examination to
the dentist is necessary if a dry mouth has been going on for a long time. This
is because a dry mouth can increase the risk of other health problems,
including
cavities.
Diagnosis of Dry Mouth
The doctor will
ask about the symptoms, medical history, and drugs consumed by the patient,
followed by examining the patient's mouth. To ascertain the cause of
dry mouth, the doctor may perform several supporting studies, such as:
- Blood tests to detect the absence of
infection or other diseases that may be underlying the occurrence of dry
mouth, including diabetes
- Measurement of saliva production rate
- Tissue sampling(biopsy)of the salivary glands if dry mouth is
suspected to be caused by Sjogren's syndrome
- Scan of the salivary glands
Dry Mouth Treatment
When experiencing
dry mouth, before undergoing treatment from a doctor, try to do the therapy at
home first. You can drink more water, ice cubes, or chew sugar-free gum to stimulate
saliva production.
If the above
self-medication does not successfully overcome dry mouth, see a doctor. Dry
mouth treatment that will usually be done by a doctor is:
- Administration of decongestant drugs
if dry mouth is caused by nasal congestion
- Reduction in dose or replacement of
medicines if dry mouth is caused by the use of certain medications
- Artificial saliva or mouthwash
containing xylitol
- Administration of pilocarpine or
cevimeline to stimulate saliva production
- Apply fluoride to prevent cavities
Complications of Dry Mouth
Dry mouth can
cause several problems, such as:
- Sprue
- Chapped lips
- Cavities, the formation of tartar,
and gum problems
- Fungal infection in the mouth
- Nutritional disorders due to
difficulty chewing and swallowing
Prevention of Dry Mouth
In addition to
adequate fluid needs and maintaining oral and dental health, the following ways
can also be done to prevent or relieve dry mouth symptoms:
- Reduce the habit of breathing through
the mouth.
- Quit.
- Limit the consumption of caffeinated
or alcoholic beverages.
- Use an air humidifier in the room,
especially at night.
- Apply lip moisturizer to overcome
chapped lips.
- Reduce eating foods that are too
sweet, sour, spicy, or salty.
Use toothpaste and mouthwash that contains fluoride, and check your teeth with your dentist at least twice a year.
