Do you feel that your mouth is constantly dry? Read this article to know the possible dry mouth causes and treatment. Have a look
Drinking lots of water all through the day, yet it feels that not a drop has gone in! Is this what you are experiencing? Also known as Xerostomia, dry mouth causes are due to lack of saliva in the mouth which makes the mouth feel absolutely dehydrated and dry. Dealing with dry mouth can be a bit of a nuisance and great discomfort too! It can also lead to tooth decay as it is the presence of saliva that enables prevention of tooth decay by cleaning the food and plaque present in the gums and teeth. It can also hamper your daily life because of the discomfort caused due to dryness and the effect that it has on your sense of taste and ability to swallow the food that you eat. If you are suffering or know how it feels to have a dry mouth, you would also be familiar with the pain and pricking sensation that you feel while swallowing!
Causes of Dry Mouth
There could be many dry mouth causes. Look at the various dry mouth reasons mentioned below that can help you identify the possible cause of why you are suffering from dry mouth.
Side Effect of Medication/ Drugs
If you are having a dry mouth and tongue, one of the reasons could be consumption of certain drugs or medicines. There are many drugs that can do so, especially the medications used for treating anxiety and depression, Parkinson's disease, high blood pressure, tranquilizers, diuretics, antihistamines etc.
Health Conditions
There are certain health problems and health conditions that can lead to dry mouth and throat. These are as follows.
Diabetes
Parkinson's Disease
Alzheimer's Disease
HIV/AIDS
Anxiety Disorder
Depression
Cancer
Pregnancy
You can go through dry mouth and diabetes and dry mouth during pregnancy to know more in detail.
Consumption of Tobacco
If you are addicted to smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco, then that can be another dry mouth causes leading to the condition. It is advisable to stop as soon as possible before the condition worsens.
Aging
Another main reason for dryness in mouth is aging! Older people tend to suffer from dry mouth syndrome and also lose their sense of taste if they are taking many medications of certain health issues that are more prone to case dry mouth.
Injury Leading to Nerve Damage
Another cause of dry mouth could be nerve damage as a result of an injury, especially around the head and neck area. Such nerve damages can lead to Xerostomia, in another words, dry mouth!
Snoring
For people who breath with their mouth open, or snore heavily, experiencing dry throat in the morning may be a common experience. If you happen to notice dry mouth at night if you happen to wake up in the middle of the night, then snoring could be a possible cause.
Treatment for Dry Mouth
After knowing the dry mouth causes and cures, the next step would be to know how to get rid of dry mouth! The exact and accurate dry mouth treatment depends upon the causes of dry mouth. So it is best to consult with your doctor to check the causes and get the exact treatment. Dry mouth is nothing but the lack of enough saliva in the mouth! So, your doctor may prescribe certain medications which will stimulate the production of saliva in the mouth! Below mentioned are some dry mouth remedies which can help you get some relief! Have a look at these dry mouth cures at home.
Drink lots of water at regular intervals.
Eating sugar free chewing gums or sucking sugar free candies on a regular basis would also help prevent dry mouth.
Stop the consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine and tobacco completely.
Using a fluoride rinse and toothpaste also helps in getting rid of dryness in the mouth.
It would be advisable to not use mouthwash as long as you are suffering with the condition. This is so because mouthwash contains alcohol which can add to further dryness!
Use nasal strips which can help you breath through your nose and not your mouth. This can help in avoiding dryness in the mouth.
I hope that this article helped you in identifying your individual dry mouth causes! It should be clear to you by now that dry mouth can also relate to various dental problems due to lack of saliva. Therefore, your main focus should be to maintain proper dental hygiene and keeping your mouth well hydrated. If you think that the situation is worse than you assumed, seek medical advice as soon as possible. Take care.
Remember, if you have dry mouth, you need to be extra careful to keep your teeth healthy. Make sure you:
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2.Floss your teeth every day.
3.Use toothpaste with fluoride in it. Most toothpastes sold at grocery and drug stores have fluoride in them.
4.Avoid sticky, sugary foods. If you do eat them, brush immediately afterwards.
5.Visit your dentist for a check-up at least twice a year. Your dentist might also suggest you use a prescription-strength fluoride gel (which is like a toothpaste) to help prevent dental decay.
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