The lack of saliva is a frequent issue that may only seem to cause discomfort, but dry mouth may also have an impact on how enjoyable eating is and how well your teeth are taking care of.
Xerostomia is the medical name for dry mouth. Because saliva prevents tooth decay by reducing the development of germs and eliminating food and plaque, dry mouth can be problematic.
Food tastes better and is simpler to swallow when saliva is present.
Salivary enzymes also facilitate digestion.
Dry mouth is frequently a side effect of several drugs, however therapy varies depending on the reason. By altering the medication or tweaking the dosage, the condition can be improved.
A person may have the following symptoms and indicators if not enough saliva is produced: Increased prevalence of plaque, dental decay, and gum disease. Dry mouth, saliva that seems viscous and sticky, fissures in the corners of the mouth, dry lips, poor breath, trouble speaking and swallowing, dry, painful throat, changed perception of taste.
Depression and stress.
Stress causes us to have a “dry mouth” sensation. Mental instability, anxiety, and depression can result from prolonged stress. These are accompanied by the sensation of having a dry mouth.
Medication.
Excessive use of blood pressure or diuretic medications is one of the most frequent causes of dry mouth. Diuretics flush out extra sodium from the body, but sodium must be flushed out with water.
Blood pressure lowers when not enough water is drank. Therefore, it is essential to speak with a doctor before opting to use any blood pressure-regulating medicine.
Malnutrition.
Another probable cause of dry mouth is malnutrition. The body’s functioning are compromised when it doesn’t obtain enough food and water. Salivary gland activity is also decreased. In this approach, malnutrition will affect the entire body.
(Diabetes) Sugar.
The first thing to examine if a patient complains of dry mouth is the body’s sugar level. Additionally, if he experiences an exceptional requirement for food and water intake while still losing weight, it is obvious that he has diabetes.
Dehydration.
When the body is exposed to extreme temperatures, dehydration can also happen, especially if the person has recently had vomiting or diarrhea. When we are dehydrated, it is typical to feel like we have a dry mouth. Eating meals high in potassium is the quickest approach to cure dry mouth.
therapy for tumors.
The oesophageal, gastric, and intestinal mucous membranes are all impacted by radiation therapy for malignant tumors. This explains why chemotherapy causes dry mouth in cancer patients.
other health problems.
Other medical problems, such as autoimmune Sjogren’s disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, HIV/AIDS, anxiety disorders, and depression, as well as associated therapies, can result in dry mouth.
Even if the salivary glands are usually functioning, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease can produce dry mouth. This issue might be exacerbated by snoring and mouth breathing.
