Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)
What
is Xerostomia?
 Xerostomia (ZEER-oh-STOH-mee-ah) is the technical term for dry
mouth. Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while - if they are nervous,
upset or under stress. But if you have a dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be
uncomfortable and can lead to serious health problems. Dry mouth is the condition of not having enough
saliva to keep your mouth wet.
| Problems
|
- dry mouth can cause difficulties in tasting, chewing, swallowing, and speaking
dry mouth can increase your chance of developing cavities and other infections in the mouth
- dry mouth can be a sign of certain diseases and conditions
- dry mouth can be caused by certain medications or medical treatments, such as radiation treatments
|
| Symptoms
|
- a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
- trouble chewing, swallowing, tasting, or speaking
a burning feeling in the mouth
- a dry feeling in the throat
- cracked lips
- a dry, tough tongue
- mouth sores
- an infection in the mouth
|
| Importance of Saliva
|
- It helps digest food
- It protects teeth from decay
- It prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth
- It makes it possible for you to chew and swallow
|
Without enough saliva you can develop tooth decay or other
infections in the mouth. You also might not get the nutrients you
need if you cannot chew and swallow certain foods.
Some people feel a dry mouth even if their
salivary glands are working correctly. People with certain disorders, like
Alzheimer's disease or those who have suffered a stroke, may not be able to feel
wetness in their mouth and may think their mouth is dry even though it is not.
Causes
People get dry mouth when the glands in the mouth that make
saliva are not working properly. Because of this, there might not be
enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. There are several reasons why
these glands (called salivary glands) might not work right.
- Side effects of some medicines. More than 400 medicines
can cause the salivary glands to make less saliva. Medicines for
high blood pressure and depression often cause dry mouth.
- Disease. Some diseases affect the salivary glands.
Sjögren's Syndrome, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease
can all cause dry mouth.
- Radiation therapy. The salivary glands can be damaged
if they are exposed to radiation during cancer treatment.
- Chemotherapy. Drugs used to treat cancer can make
saliva thicker, causing the mouth to feel dry.
- Nerve damage. Injury to the head or neck can damage the
nerves that tell salivary glands to make saliva.
Specific
Preventive Actions and Products
- xerostomia
- special toothpaste,
rinse, gum, gel,
 Biotene,
available in drug stores
-
Smint
mints andXylimax
gum
contain
xylitol and will not cause cavities
- drink lots of water (water popsicles work
well)
- avoid caffeine (tea, soda, coffee)
- be aware that many medications cause dry
mouth and may increase the dryness
- if your salivary glands are not working
effectively, but can still produce some saliva, there are two prescription medications to increase saliva
flow
-
Salagen
5 mg (pilocarpine HCl)
- Evoxac
30 mg (cevimeline HCl)
- don't use tobacco or alcohol, they dry out
the mouth
- be aware that spicy or salty foods may
cause pain in a dry mouth
- use a humidifier at night
- if your dry mouth is caused by medicine,
perhaps your medication can be adjusted or changed
- cavity prevention (also keeps the gums
healthy!)
- custom fluoride trays and
dental office strength
fluoride (9,000 ppm), neutral sodium topical fluoride gel
- extremely effective plaque removal (food
gets off teeth easily, plaque
is the main concern)
- floss effectively to remove plaque
every time you brush or eat
- brush thoroughly and effectively
-
Waterpik
to help rinse out, kill bacteria, and change the micro-environment to
prevent plaque bacteria
- keep mouth moist, stimulate saliva - see
above to help with xerostomia
- general health and healing
- eat nutritiously
- supplement your diet with vitamins and
minerals (even if you feel you eat well), especially water soluble vitamins [B complex, C] (since you
are drinking more water) and antioxidants [E] - always take a
multivitamin/multimineral, then add the others - you may require a
liquid product if you have difficulty swallowing and/or feeling after
surgery (Ensure
Plus HN liquid supplement)
- exercise for health, circulation, mental
well-being, improved sleep
- regular dental
visits
- visit your dentist regularly to monitor
the possible effects from having a dry mouth, as well as to learn
effective ways to deal with it
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