Dry Mouth

A dry mouth can be more than irritating. It can cause all sorts of changes in your mouth.

 

A dry mouth can cause an:

· Increase in decay

· Increase in amount of erosion

· Increase in amount of sensitive teeth

· Increase in gum problems

· Increase in bad breath

· Increase in sores or ulcers in the mouth

 

There are no benefits from having a dry mouth. It is all negatives. Saliva is your friend.

 

The functions of saliva are:

· Lubrication for swallowing and speech

· Assists the special sense of taste

· Help maintain the health of the oral mucosa

· Assist in digestion

· Buffer acids from consumed food and drinks

· Serving as a reservoir for remineralisation of teeth

· Help control bacteria that live in the mouth

 

What causes a dry mouth?

What follows is not an exhaustive list. It does give you a rough idea of how common the problem is.

 

Age.  Unfortunately as you get older your mouth will get drier.

            

Dehydration.  Can be acute or chronic and can be due to just not drinking enough. Other factors can be physical activity, a hot climate, excess caffeine or alcohol

 

Disease involving the salivary glands.

· Diabetes

· Sjogren’s syndrome

· Rheumatoid arthritis

· Most connective tissues diseases such as sarcoidosis, scleroderma, SLE

 

Medications such as

· Narcotic analgesics

· Anti-convulsants

· Anti-emetics

· Anti-nauseants

· Anti-Parkinsonian drugs

· Anti-psychotics

· Anti-depressants

· Diuretics

· Anti-histamines

· Anti-hypertensives

· Anti-spasmodics

· Systemic bronchodilators

· Skeletal muscle relaxants

· Cardiac antiarrhythmics

· Anxiolytics

· Expectorants

· Decongestants

· Tranquillizers

· Sedatives

· Anti-neoplastic agents

 

 

What can I do about it?

For a select few the cause of dry mouth is something that you can change. For everybody else there area variety of gels and preparations available that lubricate and help make your mouth feel more comfortable. Use them as required during the day.  Some people find it useful to have a glass of water by the bed at night form which they can sip.  Frequent sipping during eating facilitates mastication and swallowing.  Sipping of pure water during the day is also beneficial.

 

If the dry mouth is causing sensitive teeth, decay or erosion then you will need something to help remineralise and strengthen the teeth such as extra fluoride or ‘tooth mousse’.

Chewing or eating leads to an increase in saliva.  The only way to stimulate the flow of saliva, without eating, is via chewing gum.  A chewing gum that doesn’t contain sugar can help your teeth. . Perhaps in the privacy of your own home.