Dry mouth is characterized by the decrease or interruption of saliva secretion that can occur at any age, being more common in elderly women. A dry mouth also called xerostomia, asialorrhoea, hyposalivation, may have several causes and its treatment is to increase salivation with simple measures or with the use of medicines under medical guidance.
A dry mouth on waking may be a slight sign of dehydration and therefore it is recommended that the person increase water intake, but if the symptom persists a doctor should be consulted.
If you find it difficult to drink water, see what you can do to hydrate yourself.
Common Causes of Dry Mouth
Saliva plays an important role in protecting the oral cavity from fungal, viral, or bacterial infections that cause tooth decay and bad breath. In addition to humidifying the tissues of the mouth, it also helps in the formation and swallowing of the food bolus, facilitates phonetics and is essential in the retention of prostheses. Therefore, when observing the presence of constant dry mouth it is important to go to a doctor's office to start the appropriate treatment.
The most common causes of dry mouth are:
1. Nutritional deficiencies
Lack of vitamin A and B complex can dry out the lining of the mouth and lead to sores on the mouth and tongue.
Both vitamin A and full B can be found in foods such as fish, meat and eggs. Learn more about B vitamins.
2. Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases are caused by the production of antibodies against the body itself, leading to inflammation of some glands in the body, such as the salivary gland, leading to dryness of the mouth due to decreased saliva production.
Some autoimmune diseases that can lead to dry mouth are Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Sjögren's Syndrome, in which, in addition to dry mouth, there may be a sensation of sand in the eyes and a higher risk of infections, such as cavities and conjunctivitis, for example. Here's how to identify Sjögren's Syndrome.
3. Use of medicines
Some medications can also lead to dry mouth such as antidepressants, antidiuretics, antipsychotics, antihypertensives, anti-neoplastics and cancer remedies.
In addition to medications, radiation therapy, which is a type of treatment that aims to eliminate cancer cells by radiation, when performed on the head or neck, can cause dry mouth and the appearance of wounds in the gums depending on the dose of radiation. See other side effects of radiation therapy.
4. Thyroid problems
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies that attack the thyroid and lead to its inflammation, which causes hyperthyroidism, which is usually followed by hypothyroidism. The signs and symptoms of thyroid problems may arise slowly and include dry mouth, for example. Learn more about Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
5. Hormonal changes
Hormonal changes, especially at menopause and during pregnancy, can cause a number of imbalances in the woman's body, including decreasing the production of saliva, causing the dry mouth. Learn all about menopause.
Dry mouth in pregnancy can occur due to insufficient water intake, as the need for water in the woman's body increases during this time because the body needs to form the placenta and amniotic fluid. So if the woman already drank about 2 liters of water a day it is normal that she has to increase this amount to about 3 liters per day.
6. Respiratory problems
Some breathing problems, such as septum deviation or airway obstruction, for example, can cause the person to breathe through the mouth instead of the nose, which can lead, over the years, changes in the anatomy of the face and greater chance of having infections, since the nose is not filtering the inspired air. In addition, the constant intake and output of air by the good can lead to dry mouth and bad breath. Understand what mouth breather syndrome is, causes and how to treat.
7. Life habits
Life habits such as smoking, eating too many foods high in sugar or even not drinking a lot of water can cause dry mouth and bad breath, in addition to serious illnesses such as emphysema in the lungs of cigarettes, and diabetes in the case of excessive consumption of high sugar foods.
A dry mouth in diabetes is very common and can be caused by polyuria, which is characterized by the act of very urinating. What can be done to avoid dry mouth in this case is to increase water intake, but the doctor will be able to evaluate the need for the exchange of medicines for diabetes, depending on the severity of this side effect.
What to do
One of the best strategies for combating dry mouth is to drink plenty of water throughout the day. See in the following video how you can drink more water:
In addition, the treatment for dry mouth can be done in order to increase the secretion of saliva, such as:
- To suck bullets with smooth surface or chewing gum without sugar;
- Eat more acidic and citrus foods because they stimulate chewing;
- Application of fluoride in the dentist's office;
- Brush your teeth, floss and always use a mouthwash at least 2 times a day;
- Ginger tea is also a good option.
In addition one can resort to artificial saliva to increase the help to combat dry mouth symptoms and facilitate chewing of food. Your doctor may also list medications such as sorbitol or pilocarpine.
Other important precautions to avoid getting your lips dry are to avoid licking your lips, because contrary to what it seems it dries your lips and to moisturize them, try using lip balm, cocoa butter or lipstick with moisturizing properties. Check out some options to moisturize your lips.
Signs and symptoms related to dry mouth
The dry mouth symptom can be accompanied by dry and cracked lips, difficulties related to phonetics, chewing, tasting and swallowing. In addition, people who have a dry mouth often have a higher propensity for tooth decay, usually suffer from bad breath and may have a headache, in addition to the increased risk of oral infections, mainly caused by Candida albicans, because saliva also protects the mouth against micro-organisms.
The professional responsible for the treatment of dry mouth is the general practitioner, who may appoint an endocrinologist or gastroenterologist depending on its causes.
