what is dry mouth ?

Dry mouth is the condition of not having enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth wet.

Symptoms include:

• A sticky, dry feeling in the mouth.
• Trouble chewing, swallowing, tasting, or speaking
• A burning feeling in the mouth
• A dry feeling in the throat
• Cracked lips
• A dry, tough tongue
• Mouth sores
• An infection in the mouth  

 Why is saliva so important? 

• Saliva does more than keep the mouth wet. It helps digest food.
• It protects teeth from decay .It prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth.
• It makes it possible for you to chew and swallow
 

Without enough saliva you can develop tooth decay or other infections in the mouth. You also might not get the nutrients you need if you cannot chew and swallow certain foods.

What causes dry mouth?

People get dry mouth when the glands in the mouth that make saliva are not working properly. Because of this, there might not be enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. There are several reasons why these glands (called salivary glands) might not work right. Stress, anxiety, smoking and even sleeping with your mouth open can give rise to a dry mouth.

Side effects of commonly prescribed medications are, perhaps, the most common cause. More than 400 commonly used drugs can cause xerostomia. Check the medication you are taking to see if this is the case. Medicines for high blood pressure and depression often cause dry mouth
Long term or even irreversible dry mouth can be brought on by medical treatments such as radiotherapy or head & neck surgery. The salivary glands can be damaged if they are exposed to radiation during cancer treatment Chemotherapy used to treat cancer can make saliva thicker, causing the mouth to feel dry. Injury to the head or neck can damage the nerves that tell salivary glands to make saliva.

Possible treatments for dry mouth

Dry mouth treatment will depend on what is causing the problem.

• If your dry mouth is caused by medicine, your physician might change your medicine or adjust the dosage
• If your salivary glands are not working right but can still produce some saliva, your physician or dentist might give you a medicine that helps the glands work better
• Your physician or dentist might suggest that you use artificial saliva to keep your mouth wet.

Care that you should take

• Sip water or sugarless drinks often
• Avoid drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and sodas. Caffeine can dry out the mouth
• Sip water or a sugarless drink during meals. This will make chewing and swallowing easier. It may also improve the taste of food
• Take small bites of food and chew slowly
• Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candy to stimulate saliva flow; citrus, cinnamon or mint-flavored candies are good choices
• Don't use tobacco or alcohol. They dry out the mouth
• Be aware that spicy or salty foods may cause pain in a dry mouth
• Use a humidifier at night Increase the humidity in your home, particularly at night, by using a room humidifier.
• Dry cracked lips may be soothed by an oil-based balm or lipstick placed over previously moistened lips. The use of vitamin E-containing ointments may be helpful.
• A red appearance of the oral mucosa   and/or a burning sensation in your mouth may indicate you have an oral infection by the yeast Candida.

Tips for keeping your teeth healthy

Remember, if you have dry mouth, you need to be extra careful to keep your teeth healthy. Make sure you:

• Gently brush your teeth at least twice a day’ Brush after every meal
• Floss your teeth every day
• When brushing is not possible, chewing gum (containing no sugar) after eating will stimulate saliva and may decrease your risk of tooth decay. It will also help to wash away food debris. At a minimum, rinsing your teeth with water immediately will also help.
• Use toothpaste with fluoride in it.
• Avoid sticky, sugary foods. If you do eat them, brush immediately afterwards
• Visit us for a check-up at least twice a year.