Dry mouth (xerostomia) can be caused by e.g. stress, smoking or excess s alt in the diet. However, most often xerostomia is caused by medication, less often by certain diseases. Lack of saliva in the mouth requires medical intervention as soon as possible, because such a prolonged condition may lead to the development of caries and even oral mycosis. Find out what dry mouth means, what medications can cause it, and what diseases it may indicate.

Dry mouth , orxerostomia , is caused by reduced or complete inhibition of salivation.Lack of saliva in the mouthcauses discomfort as there is a feeling of stickiness, dry mouth, burning tongue and painful changes in the mouth, as well as chapped lips.

About 10 percent of the population suffer from xerostomia, including one in four people over the age of 65.

In additiondry mouthmakes it difficult to talk, swallow, and use dentures. It also causes taste problems and causes bad breath. Pale and dry mucosa is susceptible to mechanical injuries, which favors the multiplication of bacteria, viruses and fungi - quickly leading to the development of various diseases, such as caries. Oral thrush can also be a consequence of chronic dry mouth.

Dry mouth (xerostomia) - what is the function of saliva?

Saliva is secreted by the parotid, sublingual and submandibular glands, as well as by the small salivary glands that are scattered throughout the mucosa of the lips, palate, tongue and cheeks. Saliva has many important functions:

  • allows digestion as it contains salivary amylase, which is involved in the initial digestion of starch to disaccharides, as well as swallowing food
  • allows you to say
  • protects the surface of the teeth and mucous membranes from damage
  • protects the oral cavity from bacteria (there are enzymes in the saliva that inhibit the growth of bacteria or kill them) and viruses, as well as other pathogens
  • neutralizes acids produced by bacteria, and thus protects against the development of caries
  • is responsible for the proper taste sensation

Dry mouth (xerostomia) - causes

  • Drugs anddrugs

The most common causes of dry mouth are medications - usually antidepressants, antiemetics, antihistamines, neuroleptics, and anxiolytics. Other preparations that can make the mouth feel dry include those used to treat Parkinson's disease, bronchodilators and diuretics (water tablets).

Narcotic drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamine can also lead to a lack of saliva in the mouth. The widespread use of the latter drug has increased the incidence of advanced dental caries, which is a result of dry mouth caused by methamphetamine ( meta-mouth ). Tooth destruction is additionally aggravated by teeth grinding (bruxism) and tooth clenching caused by drugs.

  • Chemotherapy

The use of anti-cancer drugs is also a very common cause of dry mouth. There is increased dryness and inflammation in the mouth during cancer chemotherapy, but these conditions usually disappear after treatment ends.

  • Head and neck radiotherapy

Irradiation of the salivary glands during radiation therapy for head and neck cancers often causes significant dry mouth. After a dose of 5,200 cGy radiation there is severe, irreversible dryness! Smaller doses may cause transient disorders.

  • Systemic diseases

Diseases of the salivary glands can only cause dry mouth when all salivary glands are affected. This is the case, for example, in congenital underdevelopment of the salivary glands, but it is an extremely rarely diagnosed disease. Much more often, dysfunction of all salivary glands appears in Sjogren's syndrome. The disease is characterized by dry mouth and eyes. Then there is a feeling of sand under the eyelids, burning eyes and conjunctival redness.

Other systemic diseases that may causereduced or no saliva productionare:

  • nephrolithiasis and acute renal failure
  • hyperthyroidism
  • RZS
  • lupus erythematosus
  • hypercalcemia
  • scleroderma
  • amyloidosis - it is an incurable disease in the course of which protein is deposited in cells of various organs, leading to its dysfunction
  • leprosy is an infectious tropical disease that manifests itself as weakness and numbness in the muscles, and sometimes numbness in the limbs. In addition, rough ulcers appear on the surface of the skin
  • sarcoidosis is a diseaseautoimmune, the symptoms of which are varied. In addition to dry mouth, there may be eye oversensitivity, persistent fatigue, dry cough, minor and bothersome skin lesions or blurred vision
  • tuberculosis - the most characteristic symptom of the disease is cough - initially dry, then with expectoration of sputum
  • diabetes - when it is misaligned, it can cause a vivid red mucosa in the mouth that is covered with dried-up mucus streaks;
  • HIV and AIDS infection

Dry mouth can also appear in the course of fever, vomiting and diarrhea (as a result of dehydration).

Important

A dry mouth does not always mean you are sick. It can be a symptom of too little water / fluid in the body (you should drink about 2 to 2.5 liters of fluid a day) or excessive consumption of table s alt (according to the WHO, daily s alt intake should not exceed 5 grams). It can also be the result of smoking. Some people experience dry mouth in stressful situations.

Another cause of dry mouth is breathing deeply through your mouth. Head and neck injuries can also contribute to decreased salivation.

Changing hormone levels can also affect the functioning of the salivary gland, often resulting in a dry mouth in women going through the menopause.

Dry mouth - serious complications

Often inflammatory changes in xerostomia also affect many internal organs, mainly the lungs, kidneys and digestive tract organs, the thyroid gland, and the organ of vision. Symptoms, in addition to dry mouth, include dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva.

Due to the dysfunction of the salivary glands, patients also experience problems with chewing, swallowing and speech. They lose their taste and smell. Caries, fungal lesions in the oral cavity and furrows on the tongue and lips that require medical intervention are progressing rapidly. Nose and throat dryness may appear, resulting in

  • sinusitis
  • bronchitis
  • pneumonia

The deprived of saliva skin inside the mouth and throat is more easily damaged mechanically and is susceptible to infection by pathogenic microorganisms.

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Dry mouth (xerostomia) - artificial saliva will bring relief

People who complain of dry mouth will benefit from artificial saliva spray, candy or mouthwash. The substances contained in it moisturize the tissues and reduce the bothersome discomfort of dry mouth. Besides, it preventstooth decay, gingivitis and mouth odor.

If the efficiency of the salivary glands is maintained, it is recommended to stimulate their work, e.g. by chewing sugar-free sour gums, sucking ice cubes, frozen fruit or tablets with vitamin C.

Xserostomia - prevention and treatment

In the case of xerostomia, an important element of therapy is the use of appropriate rinsing fluids with a soothing, cleansing and moisturizing effect. The use of toothpastes and mouthwashes, the ingredients of which are bactericidal or whitening, can aggravate the mucosa damage.

It is very important to maintain the proper balance of calcium and phosphorus ions within the oral cavity. In he althy people, such regulation is ensured by the presence of saliva, while in sick people, these ions should be supplemented directly into the epithelium of the oral mucosa by rinsing the mouth with a special liquid. Calcium ions help fight inflammation, reduce pain and dilate vessels. In turn, phosphate ions can protect against infections and maintain the proper pH level.

Patients who suffer from medication or general ill he alth often do not feel hungry, suffer from nausea and vomiting, and therefore do not want to eat. This situation leads to weakening of the body and malnutrition, and consequently to a lack of forces necessary to fight the disease. Modern medicine envisages the use of prescription drugs that improve appetite and increase body weight, thereby inhibiting or slowing down the development of the disease. You should talk to your nurse, doctor or dietitian about your diet and cooking method.

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Dry mouth - rules of daily oral hygiene

  • Brush your teeth after each meal and at bedtime using a soft nylon bristle brush using gentle movements.
  • Replace your toothbrush regularly every few weeks.
  • Fluoride paste is recommended, but not high in detergent, especially sodium lauryl sulfate; it is best to use toothpaste intended for children.
  • Rinse your mouth regularly with specially prepared fluids, e.g. a solution of calcium ions and phosphates.
  • Avoid ready-made mouth rinses containing alcohol, sugar, sweeteners, teeth whitening agents, high concentrations of fluoride and other ingredients that destroy the natural flora of the oral cavity.
  • Clean dentures daily with a denture brush and soak them in solutions of preparations for their disinfection.
  • Avoid lingering food under the denture, pinching, ill-fitting dentures.
  • Movable restorationprosthetics must be removed overnight and stored in a dry, perforated container.
  • Apply on dry, cracked red lip nourishing cream or lotion.
  • Avoid protective lipsticks containing petroleum and petroleum, which are dehydrating.
  • Consult your dentist with your attending physician (diabetologist, rheumatologist, oncologist).
  • Due to the changes in the oral cavity, chewing and swallowing food can be significantly more difficult. Therefore, you should pay attention to the diet and the way of preparing dishes so that nutrition meets the body's needs to fight the disease and during convalescence.

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