Synthesizing Dry Mouth – Its Causes, Effects, and Treatments
It is of great importance to be able to determine and thoroughly get to know the list of various dental conditions that you may encounter. This is to remind us that there are a lot of them lurking around, and it would be better if we are well-informed about it so that we would be able to find ways on how to treat or prevent it once any of those diseases attack us. A part of dental illness prevention is to be informed of the culprit, thus, reading about these diseases can really do you good. Apparently, one of the many popular diseases that you should be wary of would be dry mouth. To know more about this illness, read on further.
A dry mouth is a condition that is characterized by an evident decrease in the saliva levels in your mouth. When this happens, it means that you salivary gland has a sort of malfunction, thus resulting to being unable to produce the needed saliva on a regular basis. If you are wondering why is it important to have saliva (when in fact we always spit it out), it actually helps in preventing any instances of oral health conditions. It is vital in aiding in the proper and consistent digestion of food, as well as protecting the teeth from decay through neutralizing harmful acids that may penetrate the teeth. It can also help in washing away bacteria that causes cavities which can pose a threat to your teeth.
The most popular cause of dry mouth can be attributed to various prescription and over-the-counter medicines. There are almost 400 medicines that are listed and identified to be as propellers of dry mouth. Medicines such as anti-depressants, tranquilizers, painkillers, anti-histamines, diuretics, and anti-hypertensives are some of the medicines that can cause dry mouth.
This particular condition is very common among those who are aged 65 and above. Thus, we can say that old age and the natural deterioration of our bodily systems in time can trigger such a condition. Stress can also be a key factor in the existence of dry mouth. Other medical operations such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can have dry mouth as a side effect as well. Diseases such as AIDS, diabetes, and Sjogren’s syndrome can also lead to a dry mouth.
There are many ways to treat dry mouth. The most effective one would be to ensure that your oral hygiene is in good condition. Make it a point to brush your teeth at least twice a day. If a toothbrush is unavailable, a dental floss may come in handy. You may also have to alter your diet plan by avoiding acidic juices, salty foods, and those very dry foods. Patients with dry mouth are also advised to drink lots of water and avoid vices such as alcoholism and smoking.