Do you keep wetting your mouth because you do not have enough saliva to keep it moist? You may find yourself doing this regularly throughout the day. People whose salivary glands cannot do their job develop a dry mouth. As a result, there may not be enough saliva to keep the mouth comfortably closed.
Causes of Dry Mouth
- It can cause problems with taste, chewing, swallowing and speaking.
- It increases the risk of tooth decay and other infections of the mouth.
- It can be a symptom of certain diseases and conditions.
- It can be caused by certain medicines or medical treatments.
Constant thirst and a dry mouth
Do you constantly wet your mouth because you do not have enough saliva to keep it moist? You may find yourself doing this regularly throughout the day.
Symptoms Include:
- A sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
- Problems with chewing, swallowing, tasting or speaking
- A burning sensation in the mouth
- A dry feeling in the throat
- Dry lips
- A dry, rough tongue
- Mouth ulcers
- Infection in the mouth
Why Is Saliva So Important?
- Saliva does more than keep your mouth moist. It also supports the digestive system.
- It protects against tooth decay.
- It prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth.
What Causes Dry Mouth?
People whose salivary glands cannot do their job develop a dry mouth. As a result, there may not be enough saliva to keep the mouth comfortably closed. There are several reasons why these glands (the salivary glands) do not work properly.
- Side effects of certain medicines: more than 400 medicines can reduce the amount of saliva the salivary glands produce. Medicines for high blood pressure and depression often cause a dry mouth.
- Illness: certain diseases affect the salivary glands. Sjögren's syndrome, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and Parkinson's disease can cause a dry mouth.
- Radiotherapy: if the salivary glands are exposed to radiation during cancer treatment, they can be damaged.
- Chemotherapy: the drugs used to treat cancer can thicken saliva and cause a dry mouth.
- Nerve damage: an injury to the head and neck can damage the salivary glands and the nerves that trigger saliva production.
What Helps with a Dry Mouth
Treatment for dry mouth depends on the problem. See your dentist or doctor if you think you have a dry mouth. They can address the cause of your problem.
- If your dry mouth is caused by medication, your doctor may change your medicines or adjust the dose.
- If your salivary glands are not working properly but still produce saliva, your doctor or dentist may prescribe medicines to help your glands.
- Your doctor or dentist may recommend using artificial saliva to protect your mouth.
What Can I Do?
- Sip tap water or sugar-free drinks regularly.
- Avoid drinks containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea and some fizzy drinks. Caffeine can dry out the mouth.
- You can drink water or a sugar-free drink with meals. This makes food easier to chew and swallow. It can also improve the taste of food.
- Sugar-free chewing gum, sugar-free hard sweets, citrus fruits, and mint and cinnamon sweets are good options for stimulating the flow of saliva.
- Using tobacco or drinking alcohol causes dryness of the mouth.
- Remember that spicy or salty foods can cause a dry mouth.
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