Xerostomia

Xerostomia is the medical term for the condition of dry mouth. Although not a disease itself Xerostomia can be a side effect of a number of medical conditions such as certain cancer treatments and the abuse of some types of drugs. Although many people experience a dry mouth at some point in their lives, an extended batch of Xerostomia can be the cause of several serious problems. Xerostomia can also occur as a side effect of several medications, having an irradiated head or neck or through trauma or damage to the salivary glands. Saliva is the clear, viscous fluid which is secreted from glands in the mouth and has several important functions including cleansing and removing food debris. A consistently dry mouth can lead to a burning or scalding sensation and a low level of oral hygiene. It can also leave you prone to a number of dental problems including periodontal disease, dental caries, oral infections and intolerance of dentures.

Symptoms

Patients with Xerostomia often experience problems with eating, speaking, swallowing and wearing dentures. Certain dry foods like cereals or crackers can be especially difficult to consume. A consistently dry mouth can cause several problems for denture wearers including denture sores, problems with retention and the tongue sticking to the palate. Xerostomia can also cause problems with taste, pain in the tongue and a constant need to drink water. Several other problems associated with Xerostomia include, an increased vulnerablility to infection, increased dental caries, an enlargement of the parotid gland, inflammation of the lips, ulcers on the tongue, infections of the salivary gland and halitosis.

Causes

Xerostomia can often be a sign of an underlying disease such as uncontrolled diabetes, Sjorgrens syndrome or Lambert-Eaton syndrome. Other potential causes of Xerostomia include anxiety, drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages, trauma to the salivary glands, dehydration, a side effect of radiation therapy or as a natural result of the aging process. Xerostomia can also be a side effect of certain medications or as a complication of drug abuse.

Treatment

In order to successfully treat Xerostomia, it's necessary to deal with the underlying cause. For instance if your dry mouth is a side effect of medication or drugs then it's common to reduce the dose or change the medication, where possible. Morphine is one of the most common causes of dry mouth along with certain antidepressants, antihistamines, beta blockers and diuretics. There are also some simple methods which can be used in cases of mild Xerostomia such as sucking on ice cubes, eating partially frozen pineapple or melon pieces, chewing sugar-free chewing gum to help stimulate salivation and applying petroleum jelly to the lips to protect against drying and cracking.

In more serious cases it's possible to be prescribed artificial saliva which is of a neutral pH and contains electolytes to approximately mimic the composition of saliva. Research shows that benefits can also be had from carmellose-based products and the long term use of acidic products, although if used frequently this can lead to the dimneralising of tooth enamel. Similarly there's several other products which can help such as salivary stimulants in pastille form, special tablets for those with an impairment of the salivary gland and certain medications for dry mouth as a side effect of radiotherapy. Pilocrapine tablets can also be used in treating Xerostomia which occurs due to radiation therapy or dry mouth occurring due to Sjogren's syndrome.