Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth syndrome is a condition associated with a decrease in saliva production. Aside from being irritating and uncomfortable, xerostomia can also compromise one’s overall general and dental health and wellbeing and should therefore never be ignored.
Symptoms
Some of the symptoms one may experience with Dry Mouth Syndrome can include:
- Difficulty swallowing, chewing, eating and talking
- Trouble tasting food
- An overall sticky or dry feeling in the mouth
- A burning sensation in the mouth
- Chapped lips
- Mouth sores or infections
- Dry tongue, throat and eyes
- Pale gums
- Bad breath
- Abundance of cavities
- Oral yeast infections like thrush
Prevalence
It is estimated that approximately 10 per cent of the population experiences Dry Mouth Syndrome. It is more common among females, the elderly and those who take prescription as well as non-prescription medications.
Causes
There are many things that cause or contribute to a dry mouth:
- Various medications. In fact, there are over 400 different medicines that can reduce saliva production and many of them fall under the following categories:
- blood pressure medications
- antihistamines
- anti-depressants
- diuretics
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories
- Diseases and medical conditions including HIV/AIDS, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, sleep apnea, lupus, eating disorders and Parkinson’s Disease
- Radiation therapy which can thicken saliva and make the mouth feel dry
- Nerve damage in the head or neck which can throw off signals that control saliva production
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding, due to dehydration and hormonal changes
- Stress, anxiety and depression
Diagnosis
The first step in addressing potential symptoms of Dry Mouth Disorder is getting a proper diagnosis. The involvement of your dentist and even a physician will be crucial if medical factors may be causing the condition.
Treatment
When it comes to devising a treatment plan for Dry Mouth Syndrome, your dentist will most likely address three different factors:
Saliva Substitution
Increasing both the frequency and quantity of the water you drink throughout the day and decreasing your caffeine intake will be important. Sucking on ice is also a helpful tip to keep your mouth moister. Using mouth rinses can also be helpful but be sure that they do not contain alcohol which could actually worsen the problem instead. Double-check ingredients – even for those labelled as “alcohol-free” as you want to stay away from “ethanol”, “eucalyptol”, “menthol” and “thymol” which can also act as drying agents.
Saliva Stimulation
Chewing on gum or sucking on candies can often help stimulate salivary flow however it is a good idea to make sure you stay with sugarless products so as to not increase your risk of developing cavities. Your dentist may also recommend artificial oral lubricants; while they will not cure xerostomia, they can make speaking, eating and digesting easier.
Cavity and yeast infection treatment and prevention
When one has a dry mouth, meticulous dental hygiene becomes extremely important. Saliva helps stave off cavity-causing bacteria so when it is absent or in short supply, you must do that much more to keep your teeth and gums clean. Your dentist might also prescribe anti-fungal treatments to treat and control oral yeast infections.
Steven Deskin is a Brantford Dentist in general practice.
