 Dry mouth, also called xerostomia is a condition in which a person's mouth produces little or no saliva. Since saliva is a natural lubricant, people with dry mouth may have trouble eating, swallowing, talking, and wearing dentures. With less saliva to wash away bacteria and other microbes, people with dry mouth are at higher risk for tooth decay, gum disease, and infections in the mouth. Dry mouth can affect people of any age but becomes more common as people get older. It may be caused by medical conditions or medicines. Drugs most likely to cause dry mouth as a side effect are those used to treat hypertension, depression, and anxiety. Other mouth-drying drugs include decongestants, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, anti-diarrheals, muscle relaxants, and cancer-chemotherapy agents. The condition best known for causing dry mouth is Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that destroys salivary glands. But many other health problems can also hamper saliva flow, including uncontrolled diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, anxiety, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, radiation therapy to the face or neck may cause a severe case of dry mouth. If you develop dry mouth as a drug side effect, your doctor or dentist may be able to recommend another drug that doesn’t cause the problem. But even if you can’t eliminate the cause of dry mouth, you can still do a lot to relieve the problem and get the juices flowing: Drink plenty of water throughout the day.Suck on sugarless candy or lozenges and chew sugarless gum.Use a humidifier at night.Breathe through your nose whenever possible.Use sauces and gravies so that foods will be easier to swallow.Keep a glass of water at your bedside, since dry mouth often occurs at bedtime.Avoid substances that irritate the mouth, including tobacco, alcohol, and products containing cinnamon, peppermint, or wintergreen.Since dry mouth increases the risk for cavities and periodontal disease, be sure to maintain good dental hygiene and visit your dentist regularly. Protect your teeth with a toothpaste that contains fluoride, and consider using a fluoride rinse before bedtime. Over-the-counter saliva substitutes such as Salivart can help reduce dry mouth. In severe cases, doctors may recommend prescription drugs such as pilocarpine (brand name Salagen) or cevimeline (Evoxac) to stimulate saliva production. Sources:
Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. American Pharmaceutical Association, 2000.
National Institute of Health – Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth http://www.nih.gov/nia/health/agepages/teeth.htm, last accessed on 12/21/00.
Goldman: Cecil Textbook of Medicine. W. B. Saunders Company, 2000.
Health. “Dry mouth”. www.mayoclinic.com. Mayo Clinic Health. Last Accessed 12/2006.
This answer prepared 12/21/2000.
This information updated 2/6/2007.
|
view shopping bag
