What causes dry mouth?
The medicines you take (both prescription and OTC) may cause dry mouth. Do not stop taking your medicine, but do mention to your doctor or dentist that you have dry mouth. You should tell your doctor or dentist if you notice that you have a dry mouth. It could be an indication of diabetes, for example.
Additionally, diabetics will generally create less spit than those with very much oversaw insulin levels, possibly speeding up tooth rot because of dry mouth coming about because of inadequate salivary security inside the oral hole.
Dry mouth symptoms:
- The feeling of dryness or stickiness in your mouth, as if it were stuffed with cotton balls.
- Sometimes tongue or mouth feels like shoe leather.
- Dry lips, sore throats or mouth ulcers.
- Having difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking.
- Dry lips, sore throats or mouth ulcers.
Risk factors for dry mouth include:
- Check with your doctor or dentist about the possibility of dry mouth from medications.
- Dry mouth and dry eyes can occur together in Sjogren syndrome.
- Dry mouth is associated with diabetes mellitus poor control of glycemic levels.
- HIV/AIDS
- The following are some of the ways to reduce your risk:
- High blood pressure that is uncontrolled
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Addison’s Disease
- Alcoholic liver cirrhosis
- Dehydration generalized and infection of the salivary gland
Tips for Dry Mouth Treatment:
- Drink water at room temperature throughout the day. Always carry a bottle of water with you.
- Do not drink water that is too hot or cold.
- Avoid carbonated drinks and only drink beverages without sugar.
- Avoid drinks that contain caffeine, as they can cause your mouth to become dry. It’s OK to drink coffee, tea, or diet soda on occasion but not too much.
- Be sure to drink water while eating. Water should be consumed before, during, and after meals.
- To stimulate salivary production, chew sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless candies.
- Smoking and drinking alcohol can dry the mouth, making you more susceptible to oral cancer and gum disease.
- Use a mouthwash that is alcohol-free. Check the ingredients on the label to make sure that alcohol isn’t listed.
- Use a humidifier at night to moisten the air in your room
Consult our dentist for a comprehensive treatment plan. This plan could include frequent visits to the dentist.
In-office dental treatment for dry mouth and its related problems may include topical fluoride treatments, prescription home fluoride, antibacterial/antifungal mouthwashes or other products including Xylitol gum. To monitor dental decay, diagnostic x-rays might need to be taken at a higher frequency. The patient’s needs should be taken into consideration when determining the best home-care instructions.
You may be more susceptible to viral or fungus infections in the mouth if you suffer from a chronically dry mouth. These ulcerations can also be caused by trauma from the friction of oral tissue against denture clasps or appliances, or the edges of worn-out or defective dental restorations.
Many medications are available to treat common infections that cause dry mouth.
To learn more about dry mouth, speak to your dentist.