What to Know About Dry Mouth
Dry mouth; is a condition in which the salivary glands in your mouth do not produce enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. Dry mouth is often caused by side effects of certain medications or aging issues or as a result of cancer radiation therapy. Less often, dry mouth can be caused by a condition that directly affects the salivary glands.
Saliva is one of the most important parts of your digestive process. It helps to soften and digest food. It also acts as a major defense mechanism to help your body maintain good dental health, protect your mouth against gum disease and tooth decay.
Saliva helps, slows bacterial growth and washes away food particles. Saliva also enhances your ability to taste the food and makes it easier to chew and swallow without any difficulty. In addition, enzymes in the aid of saliva in digestion.
Decreased saliva and dry mouth can range from being a nuisance to something that has a profound effect on your overall health and the health of your teeth and gums, and your appetite and pleasure in food.
What are dry mouth symptoms and signs?
People who complain of dry mouth may show some of the following symptoms:
- saliva that feels thick or sticky
- sharp, dry tongue
- tongue that tends to cling to the roof of the mouth
- difficulty chewing or swallowing (especially dry foods like biscuits)
- bad breath
- mouth sores
- dry and cracked lips
- the possibility of oral thrush infection
- high rate of tooth decay
- a strong, burning sensation in the mouth
- artificial acrylic teeth (as saliva helps to create a pull between the gum tissue and the artificial acrylic base).
A fungal infection that occurs in a person with a dry mouth can be associated with another underlying disease or complication such as Addison’s disease, HIV, or diabetes. The most common sign of a fungal infection of the mouth is a burning of white or white artificial tongue on the tongue or soft tissues of the mouth. Occasionally, dry mouth may be more pronounced at night during sleep, especially in the respiratory tract.
Causes of dry mouth
Dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands in the mouth do not produce enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. These glands can function well as a result of;
Medicine. Hundreds of medications, as well as many over-the-counter medications, provide dry mouth as a side effect. Among the types that can cause problems are some of the medications used to treat depression, high blood pressure and anxiety, as well as antihistamines, antidepressants, muscle relaxants and pain medications.
Lifestyle. Smoking or chewing can affect the saliva you produce and stimulate dry mouth. Breathing through your mouth opening up a lot can also contribute to the problem.
Dehydration. Drinking too little water can cause heavy saliva and dry mouth. Other causes of dehydration include medical conditions such as blood loss, chronic diarrhea or kidney failure
Cancer treatment. Chemotherapy can change the nature and amount of saliva produced. This may be temporary, and the normal flow of saliva returns after treatment is completed. Radiation treatment for your head and neck can damage the salivary glands, leading to a decrease in saliva production.
nervous disorders. The function of the salivary glands is controlled by the facial nerves. Injury or damage to these arteries, for example, can reduce saliva production.
Aging. Most older people get dry mouth when they are older. Contributing factors include the use of certain medications, changes in the body’s ability to process medications, poor nutrition, and long-term health problems.
Treatments of Dry Mouth
Depending on the cause of your dry mouth, your healthcare provider may recommend appropriate treatment. For example, if the medication causes dry mouth, the doctor or dentist may recommend changing the medication or adjusting the dosage, or he or she may prescribe an alternative to saliva. now let’s look at the treatments you can do for yourself on your dry mouth.
1. Drinking water/Stay hydrated
If you have already had a dry mouth, dehydration will make things worse. Staying well hydrated by drinking enough water is very important to reduce symptoms and keep your mouth as moist as possible.
Anyone who gets a dry mouth should make sure they drink enough water. Drinking water throughout the day can help prevent dehydration which can lead to dry mouth.
Drink sips of water throughout the day. Make sure you stay hydrated by drinking at least eight to 12 glasses of water daily, unless your doctor advises against it for some reason. Keep a water bottle near you at all times so you can drink quickly.
Slow and regular dehydration throughout the day can help prevent an upset stomach that can occur as a result of drinking too much water right away.
However, water bodies do not have the necessary additives and lubricants to provide lasting relief. Relief is only brief, and
drinking water all the time, or excessively, can result
several trips to the bathroom.
2. Don’t smoke or use chewing tobacco
These adverse effects on your overall health, smoking and chewing tobacco can exacerbate dry mouth. Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do not only help your mouth dry, but your overall health.
you also need to avoid alcohol, caffeine and acidic juices. This means you should stay away from that daily coffee or latte with juices made from citrus fruits and a glass of wine in the evening. Beware of hidden alcohol, too, as they hide in things like mouthwash.
Smoking, whether tobacco or marijuana products is one of the worst behaviors for our oral health. Smoking is known to block the flow of your blood to other parts of your body, including your gums and mouth. When our healthy blood flow is reduced, this can lead to gum disease and additional oral health issues.
In addition to the lack of blood flow, nicotine in tobacco products is also known to reduce saliva flow and cause issues like cottonmouth from smoking which can turn snowball into unpleasant issues like tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.
Gum disease from smoking can be broken down into two different types because of the affected area:
- Gum disease that irritates your gums
- Gum disease that causes loss of bone and surrounding tissue and helps your teeth.
With a little help without any help, our teeth will loosen, cause pain, and depending on the severity of the gum diseases, it may have to be removed.
That is why in order to reduce tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath and dry mouth or cotton wool, you should try to reduce smoking as much as possible, if you do not stop.
3. Focus on your breathing
Open mouth breathing can dry out the airways quickly. Some people breathe with their mouths open when they have a respiratory illness, such as a fever, or because of a medical condition.
Engaging in activities that stimulate breathing, such as strenuous exercise, can also cause breathing and open mouth.
In addition, if a person wakes up every morning with a dry mouth, he may be sleeping with his mouth open and inhaling dry air. Working hard to keep the mouth closed and breathing through the nose can help improve saliva flow in some people. Some tips can help with this effort, such as absorbing sugar-free candy.
Meditation can do wonders for dry mouth disease. The problem is usually worse for people with a problem or problem. In addition to medication and hormonal balance, stress is also a cause of breathing in your mouth, causing dryness. Pay attention to your breathing, calm your mind, and breathe through your nose for several minutes. A few weeks of practice will show you calmness.
4. Chewing sugar-free gum
Chewing gum is a pleasure for many, as you end up in a world of endless thoughts. With the emergence of sugar-free gums, several traditional concerns about the impact of this activity on your oral health have been reduced. In fact, you can get the most out of your mouth by chewing sugar-free gums.
Chew sugar-free gum or suck sugar-free hard candy to stimulate saliva flow. For some people, xylitol, which is often found in sugar-free gums or sugar-free sweets, can cause diarrhea or stomach upset if used in large quantities
Similar to sugar-free sweets, chewing sugar-free gums can help keep saliva flowing and stimulate saliva production, which can prevent mouth dryness.
Benefits of chewing sugar-free gum
Chewing may increase spit flow; Have you ever had a dry mouth for a long time? You may have trouble talking, eating, or even swallowing. You may also experience bad breath due to the degree of dryness.
Helps with bad breath; The bad thing about bad breath is that it tends to affect everyone else, but you are often unaware of the smell in your mouth. Chewing can help you to overcome this embarrassing concern.
Chewing gum improves oral health; Have you ever got an infection or a wound in your mouth? True, it can cause severe itching in your gums or tongue. Saliva in your mouth has the potential to keep the cleansing process going.
Chewing can prevent tooth decay; Dealing with emptiness is one of the most enjoyable situations you can face. The pain can be severe and the process of filling or extraction causes obvious discomfort.
Note; Chewing gum is a temporary solution, but it can provide immediate relief.
5. Improving oral hygiene
Poor oral health can lead to dry mouth, and dry mouth can also lead to poor oral health. Taking steps to improve overall oral hygiene is important, no matter what the cause of dry mouth is.
Good oral hygiene includes daily brushing and brushing, as well as cleaning the mouth with water or washing the mouth after eating to help wash food particles.
Some people choose to use a tongue trick to help reduce bacteria in their tongue, which can also improve overall oral health.
You can keep your mouth safe for your life. Here are a few basic things you can do to maintain a healthy mouth and strong teeth.
- Drink fluoridated water with a brush and fluoride toothpaste.
- Practice oral hygiene. Brush teeth twice a day and remove daily between teeth to remove dental plaque.
- Visit your dentist at least once a year, even if you do not have natural teeth or dental floss.
- If you have diabetes, work to control it. This will reduce the risk of other side effects, including the gum patient. Treating gum disease can help lower your blood sugar level.
- If your medication causes dry mouth, ask your doctor for a different medication that may be causing the condition. If dry mouth is unavoidable, drink plenty of water, chew sugar-free gum, and avoid tobacco and alcohol products.
- See your doctor or dentist if you suddenly change in taste and smell.
6. Use herbal remedies
Herbal remedies such as, tea, and other products and ginger can help stimulate the salivary glands and increase saliva production.
Health experts conducted experiments and suggested that, ginger medicine may be an alternative to other treatments for some people with dry mouth.
Often, simple herbal remedies can encourage your salivary glands to start flowing again. Try using the following treatments to treat dry mouth:
Aloe Vera; We often associate aloe vera with skin treatments, but the juice contained in the aloe vera plant is good for smoothing the mouth, too. Aloe vera juice is widely available, and can reduce dry mouth.
Ginger; Ginger is a sialogue, which helps stimulate saliva production. chewing ginger, or drinking ginger tea helps to get those salivary glands working again.
Hollyhock root; Similar to aloe vera, hollyhock can help smooth your mouth. Try hollyhock tea when your mouth dries to water and soften your mouth.
Sweet Pepper; Sweet pepper enhances seam growth, helping to reduce dry mouth. Add sweet peppers to your dinner, or eat one raw for many lunch snacks.
Spilanthes; Another sialogue, Spilanthes are a popular herb used to improve dental health and can help treat dry mouth. Spilanthes drops also work well to help reduce dry mouth.
Marshmallow Root; No, you can’t put marshmallows in your mouth to treat dry mouth, but marshmallow roots can help by smoothing your mouth, such as hollyhock or aloe vera. Try marshmallow root tea with a double dose of mouth moisturizing aid.
Nopal cactus; Nopal cactus or prickly pear cactus helps to improve dry mouth. If you can’t find the fruit itself at the nearest grocery store, try taking Nopal tablets.
7. Easy homemade rinse
When your dry mouth is acidic. A basic rinse can help reduce acidity, reduce dryness, and protect your mouth from erosion, bad breath, infections, and other issues. Make a quick rinse with ½ tsp of soda and ½ tsp of salt in two cups of filtered water. Use to relieve dry mouth. Sometimes a good fluoride user (developed by your dentist) can make this even better.
Saliva is your natural toothpaste between brushing periods because it washes away food particles in your teeth and reduces the acid-causing bacteria caused by bacteria. It also contains calcium, phosphorus and other essential nutrients that help fix your teeth every day. When you are dehydrated or your mouth dries, it puts you at greater risk of tooth decay.
Dry mouth can be caused by too many medications or medical conditions, experts show that around 22% of the population gets dry mouth with high rates among the elderly. Adding fluoride rinse to your routine can help keep your teeth clean during the day, help prevent decay, keep your mouth moist and protect your teeth.
8. Using a humidifier
If a person spends a lot of time indoors, they may find that the indoor dry air makes the symptoms of dry mouth worse.
Most people get relief by using a humidifier in the rooms they use the most. Adding moisture to the air with a humidifier can help keep the airways and mouth moist, helping to prevent dry mouth.
Adding moisture to the air during sleep can help your body maintain a good moisture, which will also help increase saliva production.
Use a humidifier at night, especially during the cold season, to help moisturize the air around you while you sleep.
In some cases, dryness in the mouth may be the result of atmospheric conditions. When the air around it is dry, it can cause dry mouth. In this case, you should consider getting a moisture converter. It works by increasing the humidity of your surrounding air. In addition to increasing your breathing, the click will relieve you of dry mouth symptoms by supplying moist air through your room. Humidifiers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it doesn’t just take any device on the market. Some humidifiers are designed to relieve symptoms of dry mouth.
Note; The type of humidifier you buy depends on the different characteristics they have. Cold humidifiers remove heat mist in the air, instead of cold mist. Although, it can lower the temperature by a few degrees at a time. Heat humidifiers emit more intense steam, and can be very useful during cold nights.
Some humidifiers have the opportunity to produce cold and warm fog, but they are usually more expensive. You can also choose between an evaporative humidifier that uses less water but is noisy with an ultrasonic humidifier which has very quiet operation and is more expensive.
Consider
If you do not have enough saliva and develop a dry mouth, this can lead to:
- Increased coverage, tooth decay and gum disease
- Mouth sores
- Yeast infection in your mouth (thrush)
- Sores or cracked skin on the corners of your mouth, or cracked lips
- Poor nutrition due to difficulty with chewing and swallowing
Alternatively; make sure you see your doctor regularly when you have this dry mouth problem as it will help in giving you basic treatment and speed recovery.