Dry Mouth
Having a dry mouth is a common problem, with a number of different causes. It is often a side effect of medicines or a result of medical treatment. A continual dry mouth can result in altered taste and an increase in tooth decay. There are simple treatments that give relief from dry-mouth problems.
The medical name for dry mouth is xerostomia and it is usually due to a reduction in saliva production.
Saliva
Saliva is the clear fluid secreted by the salivary glands of the mouth.
Saliva assists speech, taste and swallowing and prepares food for digestion. It washes away food and plaque from teeth, helps prevent tooth decay and protects against mouth and gum infections. Most healthy adults secrete about 1.5 litres of saliva per day. Saliva production commonly decreases with age, but it is also affected by illness and medicines.
Signs and Symptoms
Dry mouth has varying degrees of discomfort. Some people feel a dry or burning sensation in their mouth. Severe dry mouth may inhibit the ability to speak or swallow. Changes in saliva also can lead to deterioration of oral and dental health.
Other symptoms may include:
* Cracked lips
* Dry, tough tongue
* Bleeding gums
* Cavities
* Thick, stringy saliva
* Continual need for drinks
* Sores and split skin at mouth corners
* Bad breath
* Difficulty speaking and swallowing
* Burning or tingling tongue
* Changes in taste
* Increase in plaque and tooth decay
* Mouth and gum infections - e.g. oral thrush
* Dry and damaged mucosal lining inside the mouth.
Common causes of dry mouth include:
* Medicines - the most common cause of dry mouth. There are more than 400 commonly used drugs that can cause dry mouth - these include antidepressants, methadone, antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, analgesics, decongestants, diuretics, muscle relaxants, and medicines for Parkinson’s disease and urinary incontinence
* Cancer chemotherapy
* Radiotherapy - especially radiation to head and neck
* Nerve damage to head and neck
* Autoimmune disorders such as Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus and diabetes
* Alzheimer’s disease
* Stroke
* Anxiety and depression
* Dehydration - e.g. from fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, burns.
Other factors that may contribute to a dry mouth problem include:
* Smoking - can reduce saliva production
* Drinking alcohol
* Snoring
* Breathing through the mouth.
Management and treatment
Ideally the best way to treat dry mouth is to identify the underlying cause and take steps to minimise it. Unfortunately, for many causes, little can be done to correct it. But there are ways to help you feel more comfortable and have extra dental protection.
Dry mouth is a serious problem because it happens gradually and often goes unnoticed. Without the saliva’s natural protection, you could lose your oral health in a short time and hurt your ability to maintain necessary nutrition intake. As such the treatment for a dry mouth involves relieving symptoms, improving oral hygiene, preventing tooth decay and, if possible, increasing saliva flow.
A doctor or pharmacist can advise on the side effects of any medication you are taking.
A dentist can advise on oral hygiene and tooth and gum care and should be consulted regularly. It is best to brush with a soft brush and low-abrasive fluoride toothpaste and floss regularly. It will also be helpful to use a non-alcohol fluoride rinse and/or moisturising gel.
Saliva production may be increased by sucking on sugar-free hard candy or chewing sugar-free gum for dry-mouth sufferers. Sour flavours, especially, stimulate saliva flow.
Natural and artificial saliva sprays, mouth-wash solutions and gels are available from most pharmacies.
These preparations mimic natural saliva in content and action and can be used as a saliva substitute. They keep the mouth moist and are longer lasting than mouth rinses. They can be used ‘as often as needed’ and can be applied to dentures before insertion.
Self care
* Stop smoking.
* Limit alcohol and caffeine-containing drinks.
* Protect lips with a moisturising lip balm or lubricant.
* Sip water regularly throughout the day.
* Suck on ice chips or sugar-free ice blocks.
* Soft food may be easier to eat. Use gravies and sauces to make food easier to swallow. Pureed food may help.
* Try smaller, more frequent meals.
* Avoid salty, acidic or sugar-containing foods and drinks.
* Mouth cleaning and care is vital. Use a soft toothbrush and a low-abrasive fluoride toothpaste.
* Avoid toothpastes containing sodium lauryl sulphate.
* Avoid mouthwashes and rinses containing alcohol or peroxide.
* Breathe through nose, not mouth.
* If air is dry, a humidifier or vaporiser may help, especially at night.
Contact
A doctor - listed under ‘Medical Practitioners’ in the yellow pages of the phone book.
A dentist - listed under ‘Dentists’ in the yellow pages of the phone book.
A Self Care pharmacy - to locate telephone 1300 369 772 and ask for the Pharmacy Self Care Field Officer.
In case of poisoning, phone the Poisons Information Centre on 131 126 from anywhere in Australia.
Pharmacists are medicines experts. Ask the pharmacist for advice when choosing a medicine.
