Causes and Treatment Options for Xerostomia
Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, cotton mouth, pasties, and dough mouth, is a condition that refers to a lack of saliva in the mouth. Xerostomia makes eating, swallowing, and even speaking difficult. It can cause a person to have bad breath, and it increases the chances of tooth decay. People suffering from Xerostomia need to seek medical treatment ASAP for a thorough teeth cleaning and checkup for gum disease. Corrective dentistry may be necessary, along with aggressive oral hygiene, to reverse the deterioration of tooth enamel that commonly results from Xerostomia.
Since there are so many causes of Xerostomia, treatments vary widely. Many cannot actually cure the condition, but they can offer relief from its symptoms. Many of these causes lie within the control of the person, because they are behavior related. Others however, are beyond the control of the individual and require professional care to manage the condition.
Alcohol and drugs can dehydrate tissues in the mouth and result in the loss of saliva production. In fact, the tendency of marijuana to do this led to the coining of the term cotton mouth. Methamphetamines also will cause Xerostomia and further complicate dry mouth with Bruxism by causing the jaws to clench. Smoking also dries out the mouth.
The easiest way to treat Xerostomia in these instances is to simply quit drinking, smoking, and using illegal substances.
Heavy athletic activity can also cause cases of Xerostomia. Salivary glands dry out when people breathe through their mouths instead of their noses. Also, when people exert themselves in the heat, their bodies redirect fluids normally used in the production of saliva to other parts of the body.
In most athletic activity, fluid replenishment and a conscious decision to avoid breathing through the nose can alleviate Xerostomia.
Anxiety increases the production of adrenalin. Adrenalin, in turn, affects a number of other vital and non-vital systems within the body, including the production of saliva. It is not uncommon for people who have panic attacks to also have dry mouth.
It can sometimes be very hard to treat anxiety-related Xerostomia because many anti-anxiety medications also cause dry mouth. Switching medication may be the solution. When this is not an option, salivary producing drugs may be prescribed.
Xerostomia can often result from diseases like poorly managed diabetes, clinical depression, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, and Sjögren's syndrome. There is no definitive cause and effect between these diseases and dry mouth, but enough clinical studies indicate there is a link between these diseases and dry mouth in many people. Treatment really depends on the person and his or her condition.
Xerostomia can result as a side effect of many types of medication. Anti-anxiety medication and anti-depressants can dry out the mouth. Antidiuretics can also cause dry mouth, and chemotherapy can actually change the nature, as well as the amount, of saliva. Prescription drugs can be used to treat a great number of these cases.
It is a good idea to always maintain good oral hygiene and seek regular dental cleaning. Avoid taking over the counter decongestants and antihistamines. Reduce your sugar intake as much as possible. While you should drink water for general health, it can only treat Xerostomia when it is caused by dehydration. Using water to treat dry mouth caused by something else only frustrates the situation. .
If you have dry mouth, our dentists can help you. Many times we prescribe medication for Xerostomia treatment. These include xylitol gum, a saliva substitute mouthwash, oxidized glycerol trimesters, and a drug called Aquoral.
Call our office at 713.795.5905 and see what we can do for you.
Since there are so many causes of Xerostomia, treatments vary widely. Many cannot actually cure the condition, but they can offer relief from its symptoms. Many of these causes lie within the control of the person, because they are behavior related. Others however, are beyond the control of the individual and require professional care to manage the condition.
Alcohol and drugs can dehydrate tissues in the mouth and result in the loss of saliva production. In fact, the tendency of marijuana to do this led to the coining of the term cotton mouth. Methamphetamines also will cause Xerostomia and further complicate dry mouth with Bruxism by causing the jaws to clench. Smoking also dries out the mouth.
The easiest way to treat Xerostomia in these instances is to simply quit drinking, smoking, and using illegal substances.
Heavy athletic activity can also cause cases of Xerostomia. Salivary glands dry out when people breathe through their mouths instead of their noses. Also, when people exert themselves in the heat, their bodies redirect fluids normally used in the production of saliva to other parts of the body.
In most athletic activity, fluid replenishment and a conscious decision to avoid breathing through the nose can alleviate Xerostomia.
Anxiety increases the production of adrenalin. Adrenalin, in turn, affects a number of other vital and non-vital systems within the body, including the production of saliva. It is not uncommon for people who have panic attacks to also have dry mouth.
It can sometimes be very hard to treat anxiety-related Xerostomia because many anti-anxiety medications also cause dry mouth. Switching medication may be the solution. When this is not an option, salivary producing drugs may be prescribed.
Xerostomia can often result from diseases like poorly managed diabetes, clinical depression, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, and Sjögren's syndrome. There is no definitive cause and effect between these diseases and dry mouth, but enough clinical studies indicate there is a link between these diseases and dry mouth in many people. Treatment really depends on the person and his or her condition.
Xerostomia can result as a side effect of many types of medication. Anti-anxiety medication and anti-depressants can dry out the mouth. Antidiuretics can also cause dry mouth, and chemotherapy can actually change the nature, as well as the amount, of saliva. Prescription drugs can be used to treat a great number of these cases.
It is a good idea to always maintain good oral hygiene and seek regular dental cleaning. Avoid taking over the counter decongestants and antihistamines. Reduce your sugar intake as much as possible. While you should drink water for general health, it can only treat Xerostomia when it is caused by dehydration. Using water to treat dry mouth caused by something else only frustrates the situation. .
If you have dry mouth, our dentists can help you. Many times we prescribe medication for Xerostomia treatment. These include xylitol gum, a saliva substitute mouthwash, oxidized glycerol trimesters, and a drug called Aquoral.
Call our office at 713.795.5905 and see what we can do for you.
Labels: dry mouth, dry mouth treatment, xerostomia, xerostomia causes and treatment
posted by Dental Expert at
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