What is Xerostomia?
This is the medical term for dry mouth. This is a difficulty where the mouth becomes unusually dry and is a problem which is common that can seem to be an annoyance. But a mouth that is dry may affect both a person’s pleasure of food as well as the condition of a person’s teeth.
Due to a consequence of no saliva or condensed saliva, mouth’s that are dry may lead to difficulties since saliva helps to avoid decay of tooth by restricting growth of bacteria and rinsing away food bits. Saliva also increases an individual’s capacity to taste food and making it stress-free swallowing. Additionally, enzymes in saliva help in digesting food.
While treatment of this condition rest on what is causing this condition, a mouth that is dry is generally a result of some drugs. Dry mouth can improve with dosages that are adjusted or new different medications.
Xerostomia Symptoms
If an individual is not creating enough saliva, these are some of the symptoms and signs:
- Saliva that is stringy and thick
- Cracked lips
- Mouth is dry
- Split skin or sores in the mouth corners
- Breath that is bad
- Problems swallowing and difficulty speaking
- Sore throat
- Changed taste
- Infection with fungus in the mouth
- Increase in plaque, decay of teeth and diseases of the gums
- With women, this condition can cause lipstick sticking to teeth
Xerostomia Causes
Mouths that are dry have many causes and they include:
Medications
There are many medications that cause an unexpected result of dry mouth. Some of the likely types are drugs to treat anxiety and depression, antihistamines, decongestants, anti-diarrheas, muscle relaxants and Parkinson’s medications.
Aging
Aging is not a risk for dry mouth by itself; but, older individuals are probable to be using drugs that might cause dry mouth. Also, older individuals are more likely to have other health problems that can cause dry mouth.
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Therapy for cancer therapy
Drugs for chemotherapy can alter everything about saliva as well as the quantity produced.
Nerve damage
A surgery or injury that creates damage to a nerve in the neck and head area can also result in dry mouth.
Other causes
Other causes including autoimmune disease such as Sjogren’s syndrome, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, depression and anxiety disorders.
Use of tobacco
Chewing or smoking tobacco may develop dry mouth
Xerostomia Treatment
If a physician thinks drugs to be the cause, he or she might adjust the dose or switch to another drug that does not cause a dry mouth. The physician may also consider prescribing pilocarpine or Salagen or cevimeline or Evoxac that motivate saliva production.
With cases that are severe in order to avert cavities, the dentist may fit you for casings for your teeth complete with fluoride to use at night.
Xerostomia Pictures
