Fact Checked
Overview Of A Dry Mouth
- Dry mouth (also known as xerostomia) is a disorder that take place when the salivary glands in the mouth don’t function correctly.
- It causes a dehydrated feeling within the mouth. Additional symptoms consist of a tongue which feels rough, sores within the mouth, and split lips.
- Saliva is an essential part of the digestion procedure. It’s required to dampen and break down food and functions as a defense mechanism to assist your body in maintaining proper dental health.
- Saliva shields the mouth against gum infection and decaying of the teeth. While not a severe medical disorder, dry mouth can be an indication of a bigger medical issue.
Causes Of A Dry Mouth
Several things can lead to dry mouth. If you smoke, you have a bigger chance of getting dry mouth. Some disorders such as diabetes can also decrease the amount of saliva. Medicines can also decrease the amount of saliva you produce. Other causes of dry mouth consist of:
- Anxiety;
- Chemotherapy;
- Autoimmune disorders;
- Radiation therapy;
- Appetite suppressants;
- Botulism;
- Tranquilizers; and
Treating Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is generally a short-term and curable condition. The treatment usually depends on what is causing the dry mouth. In most instances, it can be managed by applying the following:
- Drinking lots of water;
- Having some sugarless gum;
- Avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine;
- Staying away from salted or hot foods; and
- Controlling your sugar consumption.