Intense thirst – one of the sensations that you want to get rid of as soon as possible. What about people who suffer from constant dry mouth? What causes it and what does it lead to – tells estet-portal.com.
Dry mouth – it's not just a feeling of thirst. Dry mouth occurs due to the production of insufficient saliva in the mouth or its complete absence. Saliva helps to taste food and drinks, as well as digest food. It also washes away food debris from the teeth and helps prevent dental caries. Dry mouth is also called xerostomia.
Problems related to lack of saliva
When there is not enough saliva, the skin in and around the mouth becomes dry and tight. Your lips are prone to cracking, sores can appear at the corners of your mouth. Your tongue may also be dry and hard. Also, a person with dry mouth may have difficulty swallowing or speaking.
Also, lack of saliva can cause bad breath because it cannot effectively fight bacteria on the teeth. Lipstick residue on teeth – not uncommon in xerostomia, as are hoarseness and tickling in the throat.
Causes of dry mouth
- Medications. Over 400 types of medications can cause dry mouth. These include over-the-counter allergy and cold medicines, as well as many medicines for high blood pressure, overactive bladder, and mental health treatments. Dry mouth can be caused by chemotherapy, which sometimes makes the saliva thicker.
- Injuries. Nerve damage from head or neck injuries can also lead to a lack of saliva and dry mouth. Some nerves carry messages from the brain to the salivary glands. If these nerves are damaged, the salivary glands cannot receive a signal to produce saliva. That is why it is so difficult to taste food when there is a lack of saliva, because it is saliva that transmits taste signals to the nerve cells in the mouth and throat.
- Diseases. Sjögren's syndrome – this is the name of an autoimmune disease in which leukocytes attack the lacrimal and salivary glands; disruption of their work leads to dry mouth and dry eyes. Dry mouth is also seen in people who are HIV-infected or have AIDS.
- Bad habits. Now smokers have another reason to quit this addiction. Smoking itself does not cause dry mouth, but smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or tobacco products can make dry mouth worse. Also, this problem can be caused by excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine.
How to get rid of dry mouth
If you have dry mouth, see a doctor. If you are not taking medications that may be causing this problem, you may be unaware of a medical condition that is causing your symptoms.
Because a lack of saliva can lead to dental problems, people with dry mouth are advised to visit the dentist regularly. And to fight bacteria after eating, you need to brush your teeth, floss and do not forget to rinse your mouth (with an alcohol-free product). It is also recommended to drink water throughout the day and limit the consumption of drinks containing acids, sugar or caffeine. Chewing gum or sugar-free hard candy can help produce the saliva needed to keep your mouth moist.
Estet-portal.com reminds you that any problem, especially if it occurs suddenly, may indicate the presence of a serious illness. Therefore, if dry mouth is not the cause of excessive consumption of salty foods and / or alcohol, we strongly recommend that you consult a specialist and undergo appropriate examinations.
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