Read this post to know about Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a condition when the salivary glands in your mouth do not produce enough saliva to keep the mouth wet.
The condition can be painful, and the parched sensation can make talking and swallowing difficult. This may go beyond being a mere nuisance – it can have an impact on your dental and overall health too.
What Are the Causes of Dry Mouth?
Salivary glands may not produce enough saliva because of different reasons.
Medications. Dry mouth might be a side effect of taking medications that treat high blood pressure, depression, or anxiety.The use of some pain killers, muscle relaxants, decongestants, and antiallergicsare also known to cause dry mouth.
Cancer therapy. Chemotherapy drugs may affect saliva production, although normal salivary function tends to return upon completion of treatment. Radiation to the head or neck, on the other hand, may lead to temporary or permanent decrease in production of saliva.
Other health problems. You might experience dry mouth if you suffer from oral yeast infection (thrush), diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Sjogren’s syndrome, or Alzheimer’s disease. Dry mouth can also be a result of mouth breathing and snoring.
Substance abuse. Smoking marijuana may cause dry mouth. Using methamphetamines can result in severe dry mouth leading to damage of teeth.
Alcohol and tobacco use. Chewing or smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol may aggravate symptoms of dry mouth.
Aging. Older people tend to experience dry mouth because of contributing factors that include long-term health complications as well as inadequate nutrition.
Nerve damage. Surgeries or injuries that result in nerve damage around the head and neck may lead to dry mouth.
What to Watch Out For?
If your salivary glands do not produce enough saliva, you might experience the following symptoms:
Mouth feeling dry or sticky
Thick and stringy saliva
Difficulty in talking, chewing, and swallowing
Dry, sore, or hoarse throat
Bad breath
Dry tongue
Change in sense of taste
How Does it Affect You?
Inadequate production of saliva in the mouth may result in:
Mouth sores
Yeast infection (thrush)
Increased plaque and tooth decay
Gum disease
Cracked lips
Split skin or sores on the corners of your lips
General wasting, from not being able to chew and swallow
If you experience any persistent symptom of dry mouth, it is important that you consult your dentist without delay. We can then work out a plan to manage your condition.
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