Have you heard of dry mouth syndrome or xerostomia? It is a constant sensation of dry mouth that affects a large part of the population at some point in their lives. In this article from the blog of Vélez and LozanoWe, your dental clinic in Murcia, tell you about some of the most common causes as well as the methods to treat it.

What is Dry Mouth Syndrome?

Firstly, it should be noted that the saliva is a valuable oral fluid that is often overlooked. It is essential for the preservation and maintenance of oral health, but receives little attention until the quantity or quality declines.

Recently Much research has been done on the subject of salivary dysfunction, i.e. lack of saliva, as it is related to a lack of saliva. alteration of the state of health or as a side effect of certain medicines.

The sensation of dry mouth, which is professionally referred to as xerostomiais a fairly common finding and can be related to a variety of conditions including, but not limited to:

• • Side effects of medicinesMany medicines can cause dry mouth. Among them, the following are worth mentioning antihistamines, decongestants, analgesics, diuretics and drugs for hypertension and specific drugs for depression.

• • Systemic diseasesThere are diseases such as diabetes, Hodgkin's disease y Parkinson's disease, AIDS, y Sjögren's syndrome which affect the salivary glands and can lead to dry mouth.
  • Associated with cancerboth the radiotherapy of areas close to the oral cavity, such as the chemotherapy can affect the functioning of the salivary glands.

• • MenopauseThe changes in the hormone levels affect the salivary glands. Menopausal and post-menopausal women often suffer from a persistent sensation of dry mouth.

TREATMENTS

To improve the sensation of dry mouth, the first thing to do is to find the cause. If it is caused by a drug, we will go to our doctor to change the prescription or dosage. If it is caused by malfunctioning salivary glands, your doctor may prescribe a drug to stimulate them. Finally, if your problem cannot be solved, here are some tips to alleviate the symptoms:

• • Hydrate frequently with water or sugar-free drinks.

• • Chewing gum or candy  sugar-free will help stimulate the salivary glands.

• • Use xerostomia-specific toothpastes and mouthwashes.

• • Avoid very salty or spicy foods
  • Avoid tobacco and alcohol

• • Use humidifiers at night to keep the room environment more humid.