Everyone’s mouth has salivary glands that produce saliva to keep the mouth wet. The saliva is also responsible for facilitating chewing and swallowing and breaking down food particles. It also prevents oral issues like tooth decay and infections. When the salivary glands can no longer produce enough saliva, it leads to a dry mouth. You will have difficulty chewing and swallowing and feel uncomfortable because of the dryness. If you have this issue, it is crucial to find the best dentist in Gurgaon since many things cause dry mouth. Here are the causes and treatments.
The Leading Causes of Dry Mouth
A dry mouth can be a result of the following elements. You will experience symptoms like cracked lips, dry throat, sticky feeling, thirstiness, bad breath, thick saliva, mouth sores, etc. These symptoms are a result of the following:
- Age
As you age, the ability of the body to perform different functions reduces. For instance, the salivary glands may no longer work properly. There is a lot of medication consumption for conditions like anxiety and depression, muscle relaxants, high blood pressure, pain, arthritis, etc. These prescriptions can cause dry mouth.
- Certain Health Conditions
Health conditions like diabetes, stroke, yeast infection, autoimmune diseases, and others can also cause dry mouth. So, if you have a dry mouth, it could result from these health conditions. The best thing is to seek medical help immediately.
- Drug Use
Drug use, including cannabis, may also cause dry mouth. This may be due to the substances in the drug affecting the way salivary glands work.
- Cancer Therapy
Cancer therapy, like chemotherapy and other radiation treatments, can also result in a dry mouth. If you have chemotherapy and radiation treatment around the head or neck, it can affect how your salivary glands produce saliva. A dry mouth is a common side effect of chemotherapy around the head which may go away with time.
Treatments or Remedies for Dry Mouth
There are several treatment options for dry mouth. When you visit a dentist, they are likely to recommend the following.
- Changing Medication
If you are under medication and a medical report shows the medications cause dry mouth, the medical expert may reduce the dose or change the medication.
- Avoiding Certain Medications
Your dentist may also advise you against certain medications causing dry mouth. If you take medicines regularly, you may be at a higher risk of developing a dry mouth. So, you may be advised against medications like hormone medicines, antihistamines, and antihypertensives.
- Oral Care
You may have a dry mouth simply because of poor oral health. You must keep your mouth clean and apply other oral care activities to prevent dry mouth.
- Drinking Plenty of Water
A dry mouth may also be a result of dehydration. In fact, dry mouth is the main symptom of dehydration. So, stay hydrated by drinking a lot of water.
- Avoiding Smoking and Alcohol
Smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating edibles containing sugar has been shown to result in dry mouth. This mostly happens because of dehydration from these products. Therefore, you will need to avoid them to rectify the problem.
Conclusion
A dry mouth is a mild oral problem that can be easily fixed with the remedies mentioned here. It is crucial to visit a dentist for a checkup. A dentist also has a range of oral care and dental services to help prevent the problem.
