Dry mouth: a very annoying symptom

Dry mouth (also known as xerostomia) is a very annoying situation. People with dry mouth have a hard time chewing and swallowing and often experience disorders in the sense of taste. Even more important is the fact that the lack of saliva caused by dry mouth can cause tooth decay and periodontitis. This is because saliva plays a role in maintaining oral health.

Tips for patients with dry mouth

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Make sure the air you breathe is not particularly dry at night. People who breathe by the mouth, not the nose, experience an even greater sense of dry mouth. If the reason you breathe by your mouth is because your nose is clogged, you may be helped by a nasal decongestant. A humidifier in the room you sleep, it can also help the situation, especially if you live in dry climates.

3. Some anticholinergic drugs are also suspected of dry mouth. Examples of such drugs are antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, antispasmodics, and some medicines administered to patients with Parkinson’s disease, patients with chronic bronchitis, and patients with bladder problems. If you are taking or think you are taking any of these medicines, ask your doctor if you can change them with something else.

4. Some diseases can also cause dry mouth such as oral candidiasis, Sjogren’s syndrome and diabetes mellitus. Ask your doctor to consider having one of these if you do not already know.

5. If you cannot correct the cause of the dry mouth, you can correct the intolerance that it causes you. You will do this by chewing sugar-free chewing gum and eating sugar-free candies. In both cases the salivary glands are stimulated and secrete saliva. Avoid eating very spicy foods. Also avoid drinking alcohol and coffee that cause more dry mouth. Ask your dentist to suggest specific solutions and toothpastes that help with dry mouth and most importantly do not burden the sensation of dryness like others. You can finally try artificial saliva preparations that moisturize the oral cavity and throat and help a little with the condition even though they do not have the same texture as your saliva.

6. Visit your dentist regularly to prevent unpleasant conditions caused by dry mouth such as increased caries and periodontitis due to reduced saliva flow.