If your mouth does not dry out from thirst or stress, you most likely have health problems.
Why dry mouth is bad
Dryness is a lack of saliva. And this liquid performs many functions, the main of which is antibacterial. It is saliva that resists the attacks of various infections. When the mouth is dry, harmful microorganisms begin to win and we get:
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- Unpleasant feeling as if the tongue sticks to the inside of the cheeks and palate (it is familiar to anyone who has ever experienced a hangover ).
- Chapped lips, sores in the mouth and corners of the lips.
- Bad breath against which brushing teeth and chewing gum are powerless: the smell reappears very quickly.
- Red irritated tongue.
- Taste problems.
- Swallowing problems. Try pushing a piece down your throat if you don’t have enough saliva in your mouth!
- Difficulties with digestion. Food poorly moistened with saliva is more difficult to chew and digest. As a result, it gets worse.
- Increased risk of SARS and ENT diseases.
- Hoarseness, sometimes strangled to a nasal voice.
- Dental problems: caries, gum disease .
All these symptoms significantly reduce the quality of life. Not to mention the impact on health: after all, the body is forced to spend energy on those infections that had to be delayed at the very entrance, and therefore it can easily miss more dangerous violations.
Where does dry mouth come from?
The reasons can be very different.
Some believe that dry mouth is related to aging. This is wrong. Xerostomia (the official medical name for the condition) is not related to age, it always has other prerequisites.
1. You don’t have enough water
This is the most common case. If your mouth is dry, chances are you are not getting enough fluid . Or you have lost too much of it – this happens during intense sports, while walking in the heat, or, for example, with digestive problems that are accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting.
2. You smoke
Tobacco smoke dries out mucous membranes and reduces saliva production. This is another reason to stop smoking .
3. You have a stuffy nose
Because of this, you breathe through your mouth. In conditions of insufficient humidity, this method of breathing can lead to drying of the mucous membrane.
4. You are taking certain medications
The list of medications that list dry mouth as a side effect is long. This includes:
- antihistamines;
- decongestants;
- a number of drugs used to control high blood pressure ( hypertension );
- antidiarrheals;
- muscle relaxants;
- antidepressants;
- certain medicines to treat Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders.
By the way, this is why dry mouth in older people is more common than in young people: they simply take more various medications.
5. You are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy
Procedures associated with the treatment of cancer can disrupt the salivary glands.
6. You have or are developing diabetes
Dry mouth is a common symptom of this condition. As a rule, it is accompanied by constant thirst and, as a result, frequent urination.
7. You develop an autoimmune disease
This can be rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid diseases (in particular, thyrotoxicosis), lupus and other disorders in which the immune system begins to attack the cells of its own body.
8. You are under a lot of stress.
When we are nervous, the body is not up to salivation. He is preoccupied with the problem of choosing between “beat” or “run”. Therefore, the mouth is predictably dry.
What to do if dry mouth occurs regularly
There are several options.
1. Check if the salivary glands are working properly
This can be done at the dentist. If your salivary glands are found to be lazy, your doctor may prescribe medications and procedures (such as electrical stimulation of the tongue and palate) to wake them up.
2. Chew more actively
The more vigorously you chew, the more saliva is produced by the corresponding glands. Of course, it is ideal to chew something healthy, such as fresh vegetables and fruits and other solid foods. But if there is no such food at hand, chewing gum will do.
3. Try to breathe through your nose
Sometimes it is difficult – for example, when the nose is blocked due to a cold. In this case, you should try to speed up the recovery.
However, there are other causes of congestion, such as polyps or a deviated septum. If you find it difficult to breathe through your nose, but why – you yourself cannot understand, be sure to consult with the lore. He will prescribe the necessary treatment.
4. Drink plenty of fluids
There are no exact rules . It’s just important to drink before you feel thirsty and make sure your urine is colorless or light yellow.
If you play sports or physical labor, especially in the heat, remember to drink more.
5. Rinse your mouth regularly
You can just water. Or you can use special rinses that your dentist will prescribe for you.
6. Quit smoking
Not only the mucous membrane of the mouth will thank you, but the body as a whole. And even a wallet.
7. Change your medication
If you find dry mouth on the list of side effects, talk to your doctor about changing the drug to some less draining alternative.
8. See a doctor
Dry mouth can sometimes be the first and almost the only symptom of an approaching disease. Talk to your therapist about this. Most likely, the doctor will suggest that you take blood tests (including thyroid hormones) and urine tests. And then, if necessary, prescribe treatment.
9. Try to be less nervous
There are many techniques to bring stress under control. Learn to relax. This will improve not only salivation, but also the impression of life in general.