Causes Of Extreme Dry Mouth
There are many causes of dry mouth, the common ones being dentures that aren’t cleaned properly or certain prescription drugs. Other causes could be :
- Gum disease(Sjögren’s syndrome, periodontitis)
- Illness and treatments (cancer treatment, neck surgery)
- Smoking
- Improper brushing
- Certain medications
- Infections such as fungal infections and yeast infection
There are even over 500 drugs that will cause dry mouth, including:
- Antidepressants
- Antihistamines
- Oral steroids
- Decongestants
- Pain killers
- Sleeping pills
Anything prescribed or overused will contribute to xerostomia, and you should make sure that it is stopped because of the risk of tooth decay.
Read Related Post: Xerostomia Relief Spray
Causes And Symptoms Of Dry Mouth:
Salivary Gland Dysfunction:
Another extreme dry mouth cause is dysfunctioning of salivary glands in which the patient faces saliva deficiency. This occurs when your body isn’t producing enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. This could be due to various medical conditions, such as diabetes, glandular problems, neurological disorders, or dehydration.
Dehydration:
Dehydration, especially extreme dehydration, can lead to tooth decay if left untreated. If you suffer from severe dehydration, you may experience an upset stomach, seizures, a rapid heartbeat, increased nervousness, and a dry mouth. These signs should prompt you to seek emergency medical care. Because of the danger involved in not seeking medical attention for your dehydration, it’s important to brush your teeth regularly and drink plenty of water to compensate for the loss of saliva. Brushing will also help remove food particles that have stuck in between your teeth, leading to more cavities and more frequent trips to the dentist.
Xerostomia:
One of the more common extreme dry mouth causes is xerostomia. This condition occurs when you produce significant amounts of saliva but no foods or liquids to moisten your mouth. While xerostomia often occurs after eating or drinking something containing sugar, it can also occur without food or liquid to reduce saliva production.
Radiation Poisoning:
Another extreme dry mouth cause is radiation poisoning. Radiation poisoning can occur when you are exposed to high levels of radiation, such as in the case of having an x-ray, being involved in a nuclear war, or undergoing general radiation treatment. The most common symptom of radiation poisoning is the extreme dry mouth that increases when drinking liquids. Radiation poisoning has been known to cause a reduction in saliva even after the patient has been treated and can lead to serious dental health problems.
Sore Throat:
It is usually caused by a virus and can lead to congestion, difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness. However, sometimes it can be a symptom of something more serious, such as an illness such as pneumonia or even cancer. You can treat it with antibiotics, but you should consult your doctor if it does not go away after a few days or if you experience further symptoms such as fever or chills. A sore throat can be a warning sign of lung disease or pneumonia, so you should get it checked out right away.
Bad Breath:
Many people experience halitosis at some point in their lives, but if it is chronic or severe, it can signal other, more serious medical problems. Chronic bad breath can be caused by mouth sores, gum disease, or infections, so see your dentist if you are experiencing this. Bad breath can also be caused by other things such as poor oral hygiene, cigarette smoking, or drinking alcohol.
Sugary Foods:
Sugary foods can cause cavities when combined with saliva and left in your mouth for too long. This is one of the reasons why it is important to brush your teeth regularly- not only will it reduce the harmful bacteria that cause plaque, but it also reduces the risk of cavities from sugary foods. If you are experiencing dry mouth symptoms, you should avoid sugary foods.
Spicy Foods:
Spicy foods are also hard on your teeth, although it is unclear why. One theory is that capsaicin, the compound that gives chilies their heat, can desiccate saliva after just a few bites. If you experience dry mouth symptoms and high blood pressure, then try reducing them in your diet until.
Mouth Breathing:
Mouth breathing is another of the more common causes of dry mouth. This is especially harmful to your oral health because it deprives your salivary glands of oxygen and saliva needed for teeth cleaning. You should also be aware that if you or your child are experiencing symptoms such as snoring, sleep apnea, allergies, asthma, or a cold, it may signify that you or your child is mouth breathing at nighttime. If the dry mouth symptoms are not present during the daytime, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Dry Mouth Treatments:
You can manage dry mouth by following the treatments for the dry mouth:
Sugar-Free Ice Pops:
For the treatment of the dry mouth, sugar-free ice pops are the least effective way to reduce the bacteria that cause dry mouth. You can also suck on sugar-free candies to increase saliva production. It is normally found at your local grocery store.
Oral Medicine And Ice Cubes:
If you are experiencing the underlying condition of dry nasal passages that causes burning sensation and tingling sensation then, your doctor may recommend using an oral medicine as a dry mouth treatment to increase the flow of saliva production in your mouth. Some examples of these are pilocarpine and cevimeline. You can also use ice cubes to cure nerve damage and help stimulate the nerves responsible for salivation.
Fruit Juice:
According to the American dental association, avoiding acidic foods and increasing fresh fruit juices not only decreases dry mouth symptoms but also moisturizes your mouth as it contains vitamins and minerals that make your teeth healthy. Other drinks such as dairy and soy milk are good for reducing dry mouth symptoms, although you can avoid acidic beverages such as alcohol. If you do not prefer juices or other liquids, try chewing sugar-free gum to increase saliva production.
Chew Sugar-Free Gum:
It increases saliva production and reduces the risk of cavities and mouth dryness. It also strengthens your jaw muscles because it keeps them active.
Sugar-Free Candy:
Sugar-free candy is the best treatment for dry mouth symptoms because it moistens your mucous membranes and reduces inflammation.
Hydration:
Drink plenty of water to keep your saliva normal. Avoid drinking alcohol or acidic beverages, especially carbonated drinks, because they can increase the dryness of the mouth by decalcifying the teeth.
Brush To Prevent And Treat Dry Mouth:
It is medically reviewed that the best way to prevent tooth decay and other medical conditions is to brush and floss regularly, brush your tongue, and rinse your mouth with warm water at least twice a day.This will help eliminate bacteria from your mouth so that your digestion process will be more efficient, and the food you eat will be more easily digested. Brush your teeth at least twice per day with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
If you are experiencing dry mouth symptoms, make sure to change your toothbrush every 2 months. It may also be helpful to use fluoride toothpaste whenever possible.For patients who experience dry mouth symptoms at night, it is important to avoid sticky and sugary foods before bed.
Reduce Alcoholic Beverages:
Alcoholic beverages are the primary cause of dry mouth since they can harm your salivary glands. Instead of stopping cold turkey suddenly, it is advised to decrease the amount taken rather than reducing it gradually if you want to stop drinking alcohol.
Artificial Salivary Gland:
Artificial salivary glands can be implanted into the mouth or through a skin graft to stimulate saliva flow. Artificial Salivary Glands are different from the parotid duct because they bypass the main gland to go directly into the mouth. This is expensive and involves complex surgery, so there are various ways of stimulating saliva flow in your mouth.
Stop Chewing Tobacco:
Tobacco use causes salivary glands to become dry and inflamed. The best way to stop chewing tobacco is to gradually reduce the consumption every day until you have completely stopped.
Therapeutic Mouth Rinse:
This can be a simple saltwater solution that temporarily stimulates saliva flow by paralyzing taste buds because they contain anesthetic properties. THERAPEUTIC mouth rinses are made of different salts, such as sodium bicarbonate, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium sulfate. The amount of salt used is adjusted to suit the specific needs of each patient.
Intake Water With Dry Fruits:
Dry fruits are good for treating dry mouth symptoms because they contain minerals that stimulate saliva flow. Consuming dried raisins, apricots, figs, and prunes can be very helpful in treating dry mouth symptoms.
Other Recommendations:
- Avoid eating crunchy or hard foods such as crackers or chips because they put too much stress on your jaw.
- Avoid sleeping in an upright position because it promotes dry mouth by allowing saliva to accumulate in the back of your throat instead of being swallowed.
Try to maintain a positive attitude because stress can worsen dry mouth symptoms, causing you to experience prolonged periods of dryness.
Visit Your Dentist:
Visit your dentist regularly to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy.
If you wear dentures, make sure to visit the dentist every six months for a cleaning and check-up: this will prevent discomfort and pain associated with dry mouth symptoms.