An abnormally dry mouth, often caused by medication. Dry mouth can have causes that are not due to an underlying disease. Examples include not drinking enough fluids, sleeping with your mouth open, hot dry weather, eating dry foods, or side effects of medications.
Possible causes include
Many prescription and over-the-counter medications cause dry mouth, including antihistamines, decongestants, hypertensive medications (for high blood pressure), antidiarrhoeals, muscle relaxants, incontinence medications urinary tract, certain medicines for Parkinson's disease, as well as a number of antidepressants.
Although the dry mouth is not a natural part of aging, the elderly tend to take more medicines than the rest of the population. Many medicines taken by older people cause a dry mouth.
Radiation therapy (radiation therapy) to the head and neck can damage the salivary glands, which reduces the production of saliva. Chemotherapy can change the nature of saliva, as well as the amount produced by the body.
This can lead to nerve damage to the head and neck and lead to a dry mouth.
Chewing or smoking tobacco increases the risk of dry mouth symptoms.
This is caused by not having enough fluids.
The salivary glands can become dry as body fluids are concentrated elsewhere in the body. Symptoms of dry mouth are more likely if exercise or play continues for a long time.
Certain health problems, illnesses, and habits can cause a dry mouth, such as: anxiety disorders and depression
The treatment varies according to the cause of your dry mouth. Your doctor or dentist can:
If you have severe dry mouth, your dentist may:
See your doctor or dentist if you notice persistent signs of dry mouth. These include:
If you think the medications are causing your dry mouth, or if you notice other symptoms of an underlying condition, make an appointment with your doctor.
Your doctor may order blood tests and measure the amount of saliva you are making to help find out the cause of your dry mouth and suggest treatment options.
If you have a persistent dry mouth, it's also important to see your dentist to check for signs of tooth decay.
In addition to your doctor's advice, these tips may help relieve your dry mouth symptoms:
Avoid products that can make your symptoms worse. These include:
Saliva is important for maintaining the health of your teeth and mouth. Taking these measures to protect your teeth can also improve your dry mouth condition:
Dry mouth can be a sign of certain health problems, such as diabetes, a stroke, a yeast infection in the mouth or Alzheimer's disease, or autoimmune diseases, such as Sjogren's syndrome or HIV / AIDS. Snoring and breathing with an open mouth can also cause dry mouth. Tobacco and alcohol consumption.
Dry mouth is not a serious illness in itself. However, sometimes it is a symptom of another underlying medical condition that needs treatment. It can also lead to complications such as tooth decay.
When the salivary glands in your mouth do not produce enough saliva can cause a dry mouth. This is often the result of dehydration, which means that you don't have enough fluid in your body to produce the saliva you need. It is also frequent that your mouth becomes dry if you feel anxious or nervous.
Anyone can get a dry mouth, but it is a common symptom of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The exact reasons are unknown, but high blood sugar could cause dry mouth in people with diabetes. Some medicines used to treat diabetes can also cause dry mouth.
Take frequent sips of fluid throughout the day. Water is the best. Use chunks of ice and sugar-free items such as gum, hard candy and lollipops, frozen fruit juices, and soft drinks. They will help maintain your mouth moist without promoting tooth decay.
