A Short Guide to Dry Mouth Causes and Symptoms

Dry mouth is the condition that occurs when the mouth becomes dehydrated due to the lack of saliva. There are several reasons for dry mouth causes and knowing the appropriate reason can help individuals find the right solution. Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth affects more than 20% of the population and usually happens when the salivary glands are not able to produce sufficient saliva. Individuals suffering from dry mouth have difficulty in speaking, chewing, and complain of halitosis. It is good to overcome this problem or it may affect an individual’s quality of life.

There are several reasons for dry mouth causes and some of the common reasons include aging, health conditions, surgery, medications, etc. Searching the web can help individuals learn ways to deal with dry mouth and overcome the problem. However, before getting into details it is important for patients suffering from dry mouth to understand the importance of saliva and the salivary glands and the various ways they help in the functioning of our body. Saliva helps us in digestion as well as in dental care. Therefore, if the production of saliva is less than it can be infectious and we can have problem in chewing and swallowing food, thus leading to dry mouth. More causes of dry mouth have been described below:

•    Dry Mouth Causes Due to Drugs:

Studies have indicated that taking certain drugs can cause dry mouth or xerostomia. However, it has also been stated that taking medications can hardly cause permanent damage to the salivary glands and after stopping to take the drugs can reduce the problem to some extent. According to a recent study, there are more than 400 drugs that can cause dry mouth and these drugs have the capability to increase, or decrease the function of the salivary glands. If you are under medication and suffer from dry mouth, then it is good to consult a doctor to help you take necessary action.

•    Dry Mouth Causes Due to Lifestyle Changes:

Too much of smoking or chewing tobacco can reduce the production of saliva, which can lead to dry mouth. Therefore, if you smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, or chew tobacco then it is good to reduce these habits to overcome dry mouth problem.

•    Dry Mouth Causes Due to Improper Diet:

According to researchers, eating salty, sweet, and acidic food can cause dry mouth. Individuals suffering from dry mouth are advised not to take sweet foods regularly, as they are harmful for the teeth as well. Additionally, lack of saliva leads to the growth in cavities therefore it is recommended to eat foods that are soft, moist, or spicy.

•    Dry Mouth Causes Due to Radiation Therapy:

Radiation therapy is generally given to cancer patients, as it helps in the reduction of the cancer cells growing in the body. Patients undergoing radiation therapy experience dry mouth, as this therapy damages the salivary glands and increases the risk of infection.

•    Dry Mouth Causes Due to Autoimmune Problems:

Autoimmune disorders such as Sjogren’s syndrome causes harm to the salivary glands, thus causing dry mouth or xerostomia.

Now that you are aware of dry mouth causes, it is good to take proper precautions to avoid making it a serious problem. You should consult a good doctor and follow the right dental care tips and suggestions to help you overcome the problem.

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Author (Nick). Submitted on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 Time: 7:46 AM

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