Do you wake up in the morning with your tongue stuck to the roof of your mouth? Do you feel the urge to drink lots of water? Perhaps you could be suffering from dry mouth known as the condition xerostomia.
Dry mouth affects about 10% of all people and is more prevalent in women than men. Disorders of saliva production affect elderly people and those who are taking prescription and nonprescription medications most frequently.
Why do you need saliva?
Your mouth needs saliva to be able to work properly. Saliva keeps your mouth moist, it helps to break down your food and helps you to swallow. It also acts as a cleanser, constantly washing around your mouth and teeth, fighting decay and helping to keep your teeth clean.
What are the symptoms of dry mouth?
Dry mouth like your mouth is full of cotton wool.
Thick and sticky saliva making it difficult to speak or swallow.
Sometimes people experience a prickly or burning sensation.
Sensitivity to certain rich, spicy or acidic foods.
Soreness of the mouth or it may look red and shiny
What causes dry mouth?
Dry mouth can be a symptom of many different problems. Most commonly it’s associated with medication, particularly heart, blood pressure and depression tablets. Sometimes it’s a direct result of a medical condition such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, alcoholic cirrhosis, lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome or blocked salivary glands.
What problems can it cause?
Saliva helps to cancel out the acid that can attack your teeth and is a very important part of your dental health. Having less saliva can increase your risk of oral health problems. Saliva helps to break down food while you are chewing, allowing you to swallow more easily. Having less saliva can also affect the taste of food and makes it harder to eat drier foods. Sometimes it can affect your speech and it makes people more likely to have bad breath.
How can you ease the symptoms?
Frequently sipping on room temperature water.
Avoid fizzy and sugary drinks.
Only drink caffeinated drinks occasionally, as caffeine can help to dry the mouth out more.
Chew on sugar free gum to stimulate saliva flow.
Don’t smoke or drink alcohol.
If you’re concerned about dry mouth please contact us- 0116 2891317