Xerostomia or Dry Mouth

What is Xerostomia or Dry Mouth?

Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is not a disease in itself but rather, it is a symptom for many other diseases and symptoms. These conditions will cause a decrease or a slowing down in the production of saliva.

Saliva is important to your body. It moistens your mouth and it helps you swallow food. It is also a natural means for fighting cavities. For instance, it will wash away food and plaque from your teeth. It will also neutralize the acidity in your mouth so that your tooth enamel doesn't erode so quickly.

With less saliva in your mouth, you put yourself at an increased risk of tooth decay. If you have xerostomia, you are also more likely to get illnesses that will affect the soft tissues in your mouth. An example of this is a yeast infection or a thrush. Moreover, your diet will get affected because you can't taste the food normally.

Why does xerostomia occur?

Xerostomia can occur because of the following reasons

side effect from a medication - several drugs out there can cause your mouth to dry. These will include pain relievers, medications for depression, cold symptoms, and allergies. These medicines are the most common cause of xerostomia. Some older people will take many medicines and some of them will likely cause dry mouth. This gives them increased probability of having dry mouth
complication from diseases and infections - a lot of diseases are associated with dry mouth and they are anemia, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, and HIV. Your xerostomia can also occur due to Sjorgen's syndrome. In this disease, the body's antibodies will attack the salivary glands and the tear glands. There are also some viral infections like mumps that will affect saliva production and cause xerostomia
dehydration - any condition that will lead to the loss of bodily fluids will cause xerostomia. These conditions will include fever, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of blood, or loss of water through the skin after burns
radiation therapy - xerostomia is a common side effect of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is used to treat cancers in the head and in the neck
surgical removal of the salivary glands - if a mass develops in a salivary gland then a surgical removal of the gland is recommended

What are the symptoms of xerostomia?

Even though xerostomia is a symptom, it usually occurs with other symptoms like

frequent thirsting
burning or tingling sensations on the tongue
red and raw tongue
sores in the mouth or at the corners of your lips
difficulty in swallowing
problems with your taste buds
sore throat
hoarseness of the throat
bad breath
problems with speaking
dried up nasal passages
dry and cracked lips
increase in dental problems like cavities and periodontal disease
difficulty in wearing dentures
repeated yeast infections in your mouth

What is the diagnosis for xerostomia?

Xerostomia is merely a symptom and not a disease. Simply tell your dentist or dental hygienist about your dry mouth. They will ask you for your medical history and other symptoms you experience. They will ask you whether you are taking any drugs. This will include prescription, non-prescription, and herbal remedies. The dentist will also examine your mouth, check the flow of saliva, look for cracks, sores, signs of cavities, and signs of gum disease.

How long does xerostomia last?

Symptoms of xerostomia can be treated however, the condition will remain as a problem if the cause remains. These causes include medicines, illnesses, or dehydration. If the salivary glands have been removed or have been destroyed then the condition is permanent. Radiation therapy used to treat cancer in the head or in the neck may also affect the way salivary glands produce saliva.

How can you prevent xerostomia?

In order to prevent dry mouth, you must avoid the things that cause it as much as possible. For instance, if your dry mouth is related to your medicine then your physician must prescribe a drug that causes lesser dryness. You must also take steps to prevent or manage the symptoms of xerostomia.

How can you treat xerostomia?

The treatment of xerostomia focuses on three main areas

relief of symptoms
prevention of tooth decay
a possible increase in the flow of saliva

Your doctor will advise you to practice good dental hygiene which means that you should brush twice daily and floss everyday. You should also have regular dental visits. In the office, your dentist or dental hygienist will apply fluoride in order to strengthen your teeth. Your physician and your dentist may work together in order to manage your condition.

The treatment of xerostomia is based on the severity of the problem and its causes. Fluoride treatments are simply administered to prevent cavities. Artifical saliva is available over the counter as a rinse, spray, or as a gel. Your doctor will prescribe a drug that causes more saliva to be released based on your medical condition and diagnosis. In order to relieve your symptoms, you may want to try one or more of the following

drink lots of water so that your mouth is kept moist. Carry water with you if you can. Sip it all throughout the day. You can even keep water by your bed at night time
suck on sugar free hard candies, ice chips, or sugar-free ice pops. Doctors believe that sugary candies are as likely to cause dry mouth and cavities
chew sugarless gum instead of the sugared ones
use an over-the-counter oral moisturizer or get a good saliva substitute
use mouth rinses or mouthwashes that do not have alcohol
avoid salty foods, dry foods like crackers, cookies, toast, and food and beverages that are high in sugar
avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine. They increase the loss of water by triggering frequent urination
stop smoking
in order to minimize the irritation of dry tissues, use a moisturizer on your lips and a soft-bristle toothbrush on your teeth and gums

When should you call a professional?

The symptoms of dry mouth can vary a lot. Your dentist or your physician can give you a full evaluation of your mouth for xerostomia. If you feel any of the symptoms then you must discuss them with your dentist. Dental decay can develop quickly in a dry mouth. If you need to sip water often and need liquids to swallow dry foods then you should discuss this with your dentist right away.

What is the prognosis for xerostomia?

With the proper treatments, people with xerostomia can regain comfort, the ability to speak, and the ability to taste their food. Through good dental hygiene, people with xerostomia can reduce dental problems.