What is Dry Mouth Condition: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options
What is Dry Mouth Condition?
A dry mouth can affect your health and quality of life. It is characterized by a lack of saliva, which can lead to bad breath, tooth decay, and other oral problems.
There are many causes of dry mouth. Some common causes are medications, dehydration, or low blood sugar levels. The most common dry mouth symptoms are dryness in the mouth, difficulty swallowing, bad taste in the mouth, and difficulties with speech.
What are the Causes of Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth causes may include:
a) Medications
Many prescription medications can cause dry mouth as a side effect. Common culprits include antihistamines, decongestants, painkillers, and diuretics.
Talk to our dentist in Billerica, MA if you suspect your mouth is causing dry mouth, as they may be able to switch you to a different medication or adjust your dosage.
b) Medical Conditions
Several conditions can lead to dry mouth, including diabetes and Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that affects the salivary glands causing them to produce less saliva.
Other causes include rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, and stroke. If you have a medical condition causing dry mouth, there may not be much you can do to prevent it. However, staying hydrated and using saliva substitutes can help alleviate symptoms. To address these conditions, you can also get dry mouth care.
c) Lifestyle Choices
Smoking and drinking alcohol are both major contributors to dry mouth. If you smoke or drink alcohol frequently, cutting back or quitting altogether may help relieve your symptoms. Also, breathing through your mouth instead of your nose can lead to a dry mouth.
d) Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy, a cancer treatment, aims at a tumor to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy causes dry mouth by damaging the salivary glands, which produce saliva. Not having enough saliva can make it hard to swallow and increase tooth decay or infection.
e) Nerve Damage
Nerve damage can cause a person to experience dry mouth. This is because the nerves and muscles that control saliva production are close to the damaged nerve.
This condition can be caused by injuries to the head, neck, or back of the throat. Nerve damage can also result from diabetes or Parkinson’s disease.
Some people may also experience dry mouth due to certain medications, such as antihistamines and antidepressants.
Symptoms of Dry Mouth Condition
When you have a dry mouth, your saliva glands don’t produce enough. A dry mouth leads to cavities and other dental problems.
The symptoms of dry mouth include:
- A feeling of thirstiness
- Dry, sticky feeling in the mouth
- Stringy saliva
- Trouble speaking and swallowing
- Cracked lips
- Mouth sores
- Bad breath
What is the Treatment for Dry Mouth?
A dry mouth can be a nuisance, and it can also lead to more serious problems. Fortunately, several dry mouth treatment options our Billerica dentist suggests are:
Mild cases of dry mouth may not require treatment. You can try to increase the moisture in your mouth by:
- Sipping water or other non-alcoholic beverages frequently
- Chewing sugarless gum
- Using a humidifier in your home
- Avoiding tobacco and alcohol
Your dentist or doctor can prescribe medication or suggest other treatments that can help increase saliva production and relieve symptoms of dry mouth if these measures fail.
Dry Mouth Prevention
While dry mouth isn’t life-threatening, it can be uncomfortable and lead to other problems, such as an increased risk of cavities, decay, and gum infection. You can do several things to prevent or relieve dry mouth symptoms, like drinking water to keep your mouth moist and avoiding sugary and acidic drinks, as they can worsen your dry mouth. You stimulate saliva production by chewing sugar-free gum. Use a humidifier in your to add moisture and help relieve dry mouth symptoms.
Visit a Dry Mouth Treatment Dentist Near You
A dry mouth can lead to several uncomfortable symptoms, including a feeling of thirst, difficulty speaking or swallowing, and cracked lips, but there are several ways to treat dry mouth.
We at One Dental Care offer dry mouth care in Billerica, MA 01821. Call us now or set an appointment for more information about getting dry mouth treatment in Billerica, MA, and how to prevent it.