Does your mouth feel like cotton even if you drink a lot of water throughout the day? Dry mouth is an oral health condition that can result in an annoying inconvenience and other serious dental problems. This condition is also called xerostomia. In this case, the glands of the mouth fail to produce adequate saliva to keep the gums, teeth, and mouth moist. Although it sounds nice to have less saliva, the conditions create a perfect environment for bacteria and germs to flourish.
It is vital to note that saliva is the natural breath freshener and mouth cleanser. Other than moistening the inside of the mouth, it also washes away the bacteria and trapped food particles off the surface of gums and teeth. Moreover, the wetness makes the surfaces of gums and teeth quite difficult for food particles to stick on.
When your mouth is dry, germs, bacteria, and food particles are not washed away. They will adhere to the gums and teeth. When such objects remain in your mouth, they start decomposing and breaking down. This is when they start releasing acid and unpleasant odors that result in bad breath and destroy the tooth enamel. As a result, you will start suffering from dental problems such as tooth sensitivity, gum disease, and cavities.
Causes of Dry Mouth
Whenever something happens to the saliva glands, these are the main causes:
Medications
Various medications such as those used to treat blood pressure, anxiety, and depression can cause dry mouth. Also, pain medications, decongestants, and muscle relaxants can make the mouth become dry.
Cancer Treatment
Radiation and drugs used in chemotherapy can decrease the production of saliva. Radiation treatment can also damage saliva glands in the neck and head. This may cause permanent damage and affect the production of saliva.
Old Age
As you get old, saliva glands do not produce adequate amounts of saliva. Inadequate nutrition and other age-related health conditions can make you become susceptible to suffering from dry mouth.
Certain Health Conditions
Dry mouth can also be caused by various health conditions like HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and stroke. Also, snoring and keeping your mouth constantly open at night can lead to a dry mouth.
Using Alcohol and Tobacco
Chewing tobacco and smoking and drinking alcohol may result in damage to the saliva gland. This increases the risk of dried out mouth.
Depending on the severity of your dry mouth, there are various treatment options you have to consider. Some of the treatments include avoid using tobacco, drink a lot of water, chew sugar-free gum, use special mouthwash, and saliva substitutes.…