Water

“Having a dry mouth can quickly cause bad breath. Help avoid that by staying hydrated, and drinking plenty of water.” (PictureQuotes.com)

Dry mouth (xerostomia) is defined as when our salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to keep our mouth optimally hydrated and wet.  This can be a result of many different aspects of daily life, from stress to aging to over-the-counter medications to other diseases. Saliva helps prevent tooth decay by neutralizing acids produced by bacteria, limiting bacterial growth, and washing away food particles.

 Saliva also enhances one’s ability to taste and makes it easier to chew, swallow and enzymes in saliva aid in the process of digestion. Decreased saliva and dry mouth can range from being merely a nuisance to something that has a major impact on your general health and the health of your teeth and gums, as well as your appetite and enjoyment of food.

Excessive dry mouth can put you at increased risk for gum disease and tooth decay as saliva normally helps fight bacteria and keep your mouth healthy. If you’re one of the many people who struggle with this condition, understanding the common causes can help you learn how to solve it. Here are some of the reasons people experience dry mouth:

Aging Many older people experience dry mouth as they age. Contributing factors include the use of certain medications, changes in the body's ability to process medication, inadequate nutrition, and having long-term health problems.

Cancer therapy Chemotherapy drugs can change the nature of saliva and the amount produced. This may be temporary with normal salivary flow returning after treatment is completed. Radiation treatments to your head and neck can damage salivary glands, causing a marked decrease in saliva production. This may be temporary or permanent depending on the radiation dose and area treated.

Dehydration A common cause of dry mouth is simply dehydration. Staying hydrated is not only good for your oral health, but also for your overall physical health. Make a habit of drinking at least 64 fluid ounces a day that’s about the same amount of liquid you’d find in a two-liter bottle. Too much physical exertion, exercising during a hot day or a lack of overall fluid intake can lead to symptoms of dry mouth.

Infection or disease Many diseases are known to cause dry mouth symptoms. Medical conditions like Parkinson’s, HIV/Aids, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, strokes, depression, cystic fibrosis, anemia, Sjögren’s syndrome, and yeast infection (thrush) in your mouth attack the salivary glands and decrease saliva production. If you’re fighting an infection or suffering from a particular disease, you may experience dry mouth.

Medications Over 400 over-the-counter and prescription medications are known to cause dry mouth as a side effect. Among the more likely types to cause problems are some of the drugs used to treat depression, high blood pressure and anxiety, as well as some antihistamines, decongestants, muscle relaxants and pain medications.

Nerve damage If you’ve suffered nerve damage after an injury or surgery, then you may have difficulty producing saliva in your mouth, ultimately leading to a chronic dry mouth. Certain injuries to the head or neck are known to damage the salivary glands and cause symptoms of dry mouth.

Side Effect If you use certain medications or receive certain medical treatments, you may also experience dry mouth as a side effect. Common medications used to treat conditions such as anxiety, depression, colds, acne or diarrhea can cause it. In addition, some medical treatments such as chemotherapy or other forms of radiation treatment can also cause dry mouth. If you suspect a medication is the cause of your condition, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about changing your prescription to help you manage your dry mouth.

Smoking Tobacco Smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco often leads to dry mouth. This is because the tobacco slows down how quickly your mouth produces saliva, which can aggravate the condition.

Snoring Dry mouth can be due to certain health conditions like breathing with your mouth open, which can also lead to a dry mouth. That’s because your body is best suited for inhaling through your nose, which naturally filters the air. Breathing through your mouth may cause your saliva to evaporate.

Here are ways to temporarily help relieve dry mouth:

·         Avoid spicy or salty foods

·         Drink more water

·         Increase the moisture in your house by buying a humidifier

·         Minimize alcohol intake

·         Minimize or eliminate drinks with caffeine

·         Minimize or eliminate drinks/foods with sugar

·         Quit smoking or chewing tobacco

·         Suck on ice cubes

·         Use American Dental Association (ADA) approved mints or gum with no sugar (I use Biotene Dry Mouth Moisturizing Spray 1.5 fl oz gentle mint flavor.)

 “It's disgusting, but my father taught me when your mouth gets dry, just suck the sweat out of your own jersey. There's no bravado to any of it. It's just a disgusting little trick.” (Kobe Bryant) [i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “6 Common Causes of Dry Mouth” by Russel Roderick

·        “Dry Mouth: The Causes, the Signs & How to Deal with It” by Smart Mouth

·        “Dry mouth” by Mayo Clinic

·        www.ada.org