Hervey Bay Local Health News

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.

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