Oral Care

Things You Need To Know About Dry Mouth

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is an ailment that affects 65% of the world population at least at some point of their lives. There is a chance that you might have been affected by this condition. While suffering from this condition, you would think about the ways to get rid of it and prevent it for the future.

In this article, we are going to talk about the impact of this condition at different stages of life.

What is dry mouth?

The mouth stays wet and comfortable with the presence of saliva in the mouth. Thus, its absence can cause mouth dryness. The major reason for the absence of saliva is the inability of salivary glands to produce enough saliva in the mouth. This condition can be a side effect of certain medical conditions.

The common signs of dry mouth mainly include:

  • A feeling of dryness in the mouth and throat
  • Persistent thirst
  • Cracked lips and corners of the mouth
  • Sores in and around the mouth
  • Sore throat

Things that tend to happen due to dry mouth

In our mouths, there is a consistent battle between the good and bad bacteria. Moreover, there are acids produced by bad bacteria, foods we eat, and beverages we drink. The healthy ecosystem in the mouth is maintained with the help of saliva in the mouth. Saliva also helps in chewing, swallowing, and proper digestion of foods. When the mouth is dry, the acids in the mouth become more concentrated. They are more dangerous for the teeth and gums. The absence of sufficient amount of saliva also aids the stay of food particles in the mouth.

Another function of saliva is that it helps the teeth absorb key minerals like calcium and fluoride. So, the lack of saliva can lead to weaker teeth.

Mouth needs proper lubrication to stay healthy. This lack of lubrication can lead to inflammation and swelling. Saliva provides that necessary lubrication.

Dry mouth in children

Dry mouth is not quite common in children. However, there are still some cases which can lead children to have mouth dryness. Those conditions manly include excess fluid loss during bouts of diarrhea, exhaustion in hot summers, mouth breathing, use of medications for mood disorders, and some rare medical conditions such as diabetes and Sjogren’s syndrome.

Dry mouth in adults

Dry mouth is more common in adults as compared to children. They can have dry mouth for the same reasons the children can. The additional reasons that can result in mouth dryness in adults include medications for blood pressure, allergies, cold, flue and Parkinson’s disease. Certain medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease are also the reasons for dry mouth in adults.

Dry mouth in older adults

Older adults are more likely to develop dry mouth as compared to younger people. The reason is that they have more illnesses and, so, they take more medications. Certain medications they take can have direct impact on the regulation of saliva in the mouth. Nevertheless, this lack of saliva should not be considered an integral side effect of aging. The medical conditions that cause mouth dryness in children and young adults are the very reasons that can cause dry mouth in older adults.

Treatment of dry mouth

Preventing or treating dry mouth can be quite easy. However, it might get difficult if there is a severe medical condition causing dry mouth.

  • Sucking on mint or chew gum can help in an increased production of saliva in the mouth. However, you have to make sure that you are selecting sugar-free versions of both of the items.
  • Make sure that you drink plenty of water on daily basis. Water consumption promotes saliva production. Keep a bottle of water with you the entire time and take a sip from it whenever you feel thirsty.
  • If you want to avoid dry mouth, you are going to have to avoid the consumption of alcoholic drinks.
  • If you like to snack, pick fruits and vegetables for this habit. Fruits and veggies stimulate the production of saliva along with being helpful for your health.
  • Make sure that you are not using processed foods as your major source of sustenance. Salty and processed foods can cause real damage to the production of saliva.
  • Avoid breathing from your mouth. The airflow through the mouth can quickly dry up the saliva in the mouth. Make sure that you are breathing from your nose.
  • If dry mouth is persistent, talk to your dentist or health physician. They are going to run some quick health checks to find out the reasons behind dry mouth.