Xerostomia, commonly known as dry mouth is an oral condition in which the salivary glands fail to produce enough saliva necessary to keep the mouth wet. Such a disorder is often caused by aging, excessive intake of medications, cancer treatment, and so.
Saliva is the lubricating agent that helps in food digestion and prevents infection caused by bacteria and fungi. It also prevents tooth decay, limits bacterial growth and enhances food chewing and swallowing abilities. When the amount of saliva decreases, it leads to dry mouth, causing discomfort and impacting overall health.
Symptoms of Dry Mouth
It may be for one or the other reasons, your salivary glands might get affected and is unable to produce sufficient saliva, these are the symptoms you may notice:
-
A sense of dryness and stickiness in the mouth
-
Thick and stringy saliva
-
Foul smell of breath
-
Problem in chewing, swallowing and speaking
-
Dryness and hoarseness of throat
-
Burning sensation in the tongue
-
Change in taste sensation
-
Cracked lips
-
Difficulty wearing dentures
Time for the Dentist Visit
The moment you notice all the above symptoms, visit your nearest dentist in JP Nagar to start immediate treatment. If not cured on time, this could become severe.
Causes of Mouth Dryness
Certain Medications - There are some prescribed as well as non-prescribed drugs that can be the reason for your dry mouth. Medicines that are taken for anxiety, asthma, obesity, pain, allergy, etc. are the ones mainly responsible for the loss of saliva.
Medical Conditions - The side effects of some medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, mumps, hypertension, and cystic fibrosis.
Growing old - As people age, dry mouth is a common oral condition they observe. Inadequate health conditions, high dosage medicines, lack of nutrition, etc. often leads to loss of saliva in aged adults.
Nerve injury caused due to the accident and surgical removal of the salivary glands can also be the reason for dryness in your mouth.
Cancer Treatment - Patients undergoing chemotherapy witness dryness of mouth as the therapy disrupts saliva production.
Also, chewing tobacco products, intake of recreational drugs and dehydration causes dry mouth. Hence, if you are subject to any of the above causes, then get medical help from a dental clinic in JP Nagar or any area you live in.
How to Treat Dry Mouth?
Consult your dentist in Bangalore or any other city who can guide you through the treatment process and prescribe medicine to boost saliva flow. Along with this, you can also do the following:
-
Drink water in plenty of quantity
-
Chew sugar-free gums or candy
-
Use a fluoride toothpaste
-
Brush and floss regularly
-
Take over-the-counter saliva substitute in consultation with the dentist
-
Breathe through the nose and not through the mouth
-
Be regular for your dental check-ups
Remember, any oral disease is the result of poor oral hygiene. So, try to follow a daily hygiene routine. For more details about dental treatment, oral care or book dentist appointment, visit India Dental World website at the earliest.