REASONS AND SELF CARE TIPS FOR DRY MOUTH

Saliva or spit is basically made by salivary glands present inside your mouth and they are important to keep your mouth healthy. They basically break down the food products, wash away food particles from your teeth and gum as well as help you in swallowing. Saliva also contains some minerals like calcium and phosphate which are helpful to keep your teeth strong and even fight to decay.

DRY MOUTH

Dry mouth happens when you do not have enough amount of saliva to keep them out wet. Dry mouth is also called as xerostomia and this can happen to anyone and actually happens to everyone occasionally. For example when you are nervous or stressed you can face dry mouth.

THE MOST COMMON REASONS FOR DRY MOUTH

MEDICINE

Medicine serious side effects of some of the medicines like they can be blood pressure medicines, depression medicines and bladder control medicines.

DISEASES

Some diseases like diabetes, HIV/aids or short grunts syndrome these all can leads to dry mouth.

RADIATION

Exposure to radiation like cancer treatment can lead to dry mouth, chemotherapy can leads to dry mouth.

INJURIES

Injuries to the neck or head lead to damage to the nervous which basically supply to salivary glands and therefore you don’t have enough saliva production.

VITAMIN DEFICIENCY

Even some vitamin deficiency can leads to dry mouth. Vitamin b12 and vitamin c deficiency can lead to gum problem.

SYMPTOMS OF DRY MOUTH

There will be a sticky dry felling in the mouth there will be trouble in chewing and swallowing and even you will not feel much amount of taste or even you will have trouble speaking.

EFFECT OF DRY MOUTH

You can have burning feeling inside the mouth, you can have cracked lips, you can have sore or ulcers in the mouth, tongue infections can happen and bad breath can happen.

SELF CARE TIPS FOR DRY MOUTH

Drinking water

The most important thing is drinking plenty of water. If you drink a lot of water then most of the times dry mouth goes away permanently so you have a habit of drinking a lot of water.

Chewing sugarless gum

Chewing sugarless gum can actually stimulate your saliva production. Citrus cinnamon or mint flavored candies are also good choice.

Avoid tobacco

Avoid alcohol

Regular dental visits

Avoid salty and spicy food

PREVENTION OF DRY MOUTH

To prevent dry mouth you can fallow some simple steps that can actually do a wonders

Sipping of water

Sugarless drink

Avoid drinking a lot of caffeine coffee

Avoid drinking soda

Use a humidifier

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

If you have persistent dry mouth it can make chewing, swallowing and even talking difficult. Dry mouth can also increase the chances and risk of tooth problems and fungal infections in the mouth. Saliva even helps to keep the germs in the mouth. Dry mouth is not normal and it is not a normal part of aging so if you think you have dry mouth and facing problems with it don’t forget to see your dentist or your doctor to find out a reason for your problem.