Do you often feel thirsty even after drinking several glasses of water?
If this is how you feel, maybe it’s time to take care.
Dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands no longer function normally.
Saliva deficiency can have many effects, starting with affecting your comfort in life.
So how do you detect dry mouth?
How to discover its cause to finally treat it and get rid of it?
There are ways to stop suffering from a very dry mouth while sleeping and waking up in the morning with that unpleasant feeling of having walked in the desert for days!
Contents
- 1 What is the role of saliva?
- 2 What is dry mouth?
- 3 The consequence of oral dryness
- 4 The causes of xerostomia
- 5 Can anxiety cause dry mouth?
- 6 What are the symptoms of dry mouth?
- 7 Dry throat and mouth diagnosis
- 8 Xerostomia treatment
- 9 Dry mouth tips
- 10 Dry mouth natural treatment
- 11 How to get rid of cotton mouth?
What is the role of saliva?
Saliva is produced by the salivary glands and supports fluid balance and oral health.
It moistens and helps to grind food.
It also cleans teeth and gums from food particles.
It just let’s swallow.
Saliva also contains minerals such as calcium or phosphate that maintain dental health while fighting tooth decay.
What is dry mouth?
Dry mouth syndrome also known as xerostomia occurs when you do not secrete enough saliva for the mouth to be perfectly moistened.
This syndrome can occur at any time, especially when you are stressed and very nervous.
But when it persists, it can make it difficult to chew, swallow, and even speak.
The consequence of oral dryness
Lack of saliva can cause tooth decay, gum problems, or trigger fungal infections because the role of saliva is also to filter bacteria.
Contrary to popular belief, having a dry mouth is not a consequence of age.
If you suffer from this syndrome, see a dentist or your doctor to determine the cause.
The causes of xerostomia
Different causes can cause a feeling of dry mouth, including:
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Side effects of certain drugs
Many substances can disrupt the salivary glands, including drugs for high blood pressure, antidepressants, or those for kidney failure, or antihistamines.
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The side effects of certain conditions
Ailments such as Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease, AIDS, or diabetes are directly responsible for a lack of saliva.
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Some specific treatments
Cancer treatment requiring radiation therapy can damage the salivary glands if exposed.
Chemotherapy imposes substances that impact saliva and dry out the mouth.
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The consequence of nerve damage
An injury to the head or neck can damage the nerves that direct the salivary glands to produce saliva.
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Dehydration
We often fail to drink enough throughout the day and insidious dehydration sets in.
It can cause many symptoms, starting with a dry mouth and throat.
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Breathing through your mouth
Here too, many reasons can cause constant mouth breathing.
Deviation of the nasal septum is often the main cause.
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Some excesses
Excessive consumption of alcohol, caffeine, or tobacco is directly responsible for dry mouth.
Can anxiety cause dry mouth?
People with anxiety often report feeling very dry mouth syndrome, perceiving a strange taste, or having a sticky tongue.
Why do nerve disorders cause dry mouth?
In fact, anxiety is linked to the survival instinct.
It fires when aggression in this case fictitious is felt and triggers a defense phenomenon resulting in an influx of blood into the limbs.
When humans feel in danger, digestion is set aside to protect vital organs.
Saliva is the starting point of digestion.
A sharp warning signal leads to diminished production of the salivary glands.
In addition, anxiety can cause acid reflux which impacts saliva production.
During a panic attack, the person breathes through the mouth, which dries out the mucous membranes very quickly.
Of course, medications prescribed to treat anxiety disorders are directly responsible for dry mouth.
Some correctors can be combined to stimulate the salivary glands.
What are the symptoms of dry mouth?
Symptoms of saliva deficiency translate to:
- a pasty mouth in the morning
- a burning sensation in the mouth
- a dry throat
- difficulty swallowing or speaking
- a taste disorder
- dry lips
- diffuse sores in the mouth
- a mouth infection
- bad breath
Dry throat and mouth diagnosis
Your dentist or physician will analyze your current drug treatment to rule out the presence of a substance that may interfere.
He may also prescribe a blood test and a test to assess your saliva production.
Depending on the cause, you may be offered appropriate treatment.
Xerostomia treatment
Treating dry mouth syndrome is of course dependent on the identified cause.
If a drug is determined to be causing the disorder, your doctor may advise a molecule change or dosage adjustment.
He may also prescribe a saliva substitute.
Dry mouth tips
Some tips can help you overcome a salivary disorder:
- chew sugar-free gum
- drink lots of water
- avoid too salty or too spicy dishes
- avoid alcohol
- quit smoking
- do not use mouthwash containing alcohol
Similarly, perfect dental hygiene and regular monitoring by your dentist will save you complications.
Dry mouth natural treatment
Dry mouth is a very uncomfortable syndrome.
But there are also natural ways to treat this condition.
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The air humidifier
Installing an air humidifier in your bedroom at night to maintain an optimal air humidity level will greatly help you fight cotton mouth.
A cool mist ultrasonic air humidifier like this (#ad) is recommended for better efficiency.
In addition, it is silent and connected for easy use.
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Saliva substitutes
The principle of these substitutes is to mimic saliva.
So all you have to do is spray on the moisturizer to maintain optimal moisture levels and protect mucous membranes and teeth.
The Allday dry mouth spray (#ad) is in this line and brings you immediate relief from dry mouth even if you have to renew the applications for a lasting effect.
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Xylimelts dry mouth
This process to combat dry mouth is surely one of the most effective.
Just place a small special dry mouth tablet (#ad) on the gum or a tooth.
It has an adhesive side and it releases xylitol and calcium carbonate over several hours.
Xylitol is a natural substance, a sugar from birch trees, which has proven its direct action on salivary flow.
In addition to maintaining optimal humidity levels, it also provides protection against cavities and helps with tooth remineralization.
Calcium carbonate is a natural mineral that comes here to provide additional protection to prevent erosion of the surface of teeth caused by saliva undersaturated with calcium.
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Mouthwash
As you know, it is recommended to stop using mouthwash containing alcohol when suffering from dry mouth.
The Biotene range is specially designed to deal with this problem.
The alcohol-free Biotene mouthwash (#ad) is designed to maintain the hydration and PH of the mouth while sanitizing it for 4 hours.
You can use it up to 5 times a day without any problem.
You can also find the Biotene spray (#ad) or gel.
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How to prevent dry mouth while sleeping?
If you no longer want to wake up in the morning with a dry mouth and lips, apply this simple trick.
Before bed, place a Himalayan salt crystal (#ad) under the tongue for about 20 seconds then drink a glass of water.
This specific salt contains more than 80 minerals such as magnesium, potassium, iodine, and trace elements that will be very beneficial to you during sleep and keep you hydrated.
So you won’t have that unpleasant feeling of being totally dehydrated in the morning, irritated throat, and pasty tongue.
How to get rid of cotton mouth?
Dry mouth syndrome is a permanent discomfort.
Beyond a permanent feeling of thirst, it makes talking uncomfortable and causes fear of bad breath.
And still, it’s nothing compared to the pasty mouth of the morning!
As we just saw, there are natural ways to solve this problem.
Sometimes generated by taking certain medications, it is difficult to stop a prescription to restore hydration to the mouth.
But even if you can’t interrupt your treatment, you can add these few tips, spray, mouthwash, and tablets of your choice, to improve your symptoms and solve a very disturbing dry mouth.
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