We all need saliva to clean and moisten our mouths and to digest food. However, when the salivary glands in our mouths do not produce enough saliva to keep our mouths wet, dry mouth can occur. It usually results from the aging process, the side effects of certain medications, or as a consequence of radiation therapy for a cancer patient.
Fortunately, there is a treatment for dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. On the other hand, this condition can lead to multiple problems. For example, it can threaten your general body health or directly the health of your teeth and gums. In addition, it has a significant impact on your enjoyment of food and your appetite.
Dry mouth is a clinical diagnosis that can be made through a person’s physical examination findings. A decrease in saliva secretion in humans can be visibly demonstrated with various diagnostic tools. These diagnoses are also categorized among themselves:
It is observed that the saliva secretion is around 1.5-2 ml per minute when the normal flow rate of the glands is stimulated. At rest, it is detected to be approximately 0.3-0.4 ml per minute. It is known that even when hyposalivation glands are stimulated, the secretion rate does not exceed 0.5-0.7 ml per minute. Citric acid is used for this test. With this, the secretions immediately combine at the point where the duct opens into the mouth.
The technique of radiologically imaging the salivary ducts and glands is called sialography. Sialography is performed specifically when there is concern about salivary gland stones or masses.
A biopsy is the process of taking a small sample from the salivary glands. This method is needed in cases where Sjögren’s syndrome or cancer is suspected.
Dry mouth is a treatable and usually temporary health problem. So, what helps with dry mouth? Many practices that individuals experiencing this health problem can do with the recommendation and knowledge of physicians can resolve this issue. Some of these practices are as follows:
Brushing teeth and using dental floss are among the methods that help protect oral health as well as being beneficial for dry mouth.
The complaint of dry mouth occurs in some people in the evenings. The recurrence of this complaint for more than one night may be a sign that the situation now requires intervention. Dry mouth at night can negatively affect the acts of speaking and eating if not treated and attended to. Like normal dry mouth, dry mouth at night can be caused by reasons such as salivary glands not working sufficiently or excessive use of tobacco products. The treatment methods recommended by physicians for dry mouth that occurs at night are as follows:
If the problem still persists after applying these methods, you should go to specialist physicians at health institutions. Additionally, dry mouth can cause yellowing of the teeth and tartar formation. Therefore, teeth whitening or dental scaling treatments may be needed.
The symptoms seen in those with dry mouth are generally common, known findings. The partial ability to speak and taste, and the inability to perform the acts of chewing, swallowing, and speaking are among the complaints that can occur with severe dryness. Moreover, a decrease in the amount of secretions in the mouth leads to many dental and gum problems. The signs and symptoms that can occur with dry mouth are as follows:
In addition to these signs and symptoms, if there are other dryness complaints such as dry skin and dry eyes, the underlying condition may be Sjögren’s syndrome. Great care should be taken for this.
A diagnosis of dry mouth can be made by observing whether a person with the complaint can swallow dry foods like bread, biscuits, or cookies without drinking anything and how well they can perform the act of speaking. Afterwards, the dentist calculates the person’s salivary flow rate. For this, the patient is asked to chew a piece of paraffin. The amount of saliva produced is determined to measure if there is any problem.
The saliva secretion in a healthy person’s mouth is over 5 mm. The salivary flow rate should be over 2.5 mm in 5 minutes. If a person’s flow rate and saliva amount are below these values, it is determined that the person has dry mouth.
The main goal of this treatment is to alleviate patients’ complaints and cure them. The main target of interventions made for this purpose is as follows:
On the other hand, if the main problem causing the dryness is identified, eliminating this situation can also contribute to the treatment of this issue. You should not use any medication or treatment method unless recommended by physicians. Because the medications you use for dry mouth may have side effects. Medications with the active ingredients pilocarpine and cevimeline, which can be obtained with a doctor’s prescription, can play a beneficial role in saliva production.
People who experience or have symptoms of dry mouth should first see a dentist. However, if the problem is not related to oral and dental health, they should make an appointment and go to the internal medicine department. In addition to the underlying disease, the use of medications that stimulate the salivary glands is recommended. Moreover, it is strongly recommended that patients experiencing these conditions increase their water consumption.
It can be a symptom of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, anemia, Sjögren’s syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, stroke, or cystic fibrosis.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to dry mouth.
Conditions like excessive sweating, diarrhea, vomiting, and blood loss can cause dry mouth.
