Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is a common side effect for all forms of healthcare treatment. There are many medications that affect the amount of saliva that’s produced, and there are treatments that can produce the same effect. Because of the severity of many of these diagnoses, many consider the benefits to outweigh the negatives.
However, it’s only fair to be aware of how saliva benefits the body, and how it affects the body when dry mouth occurs.
What is Saliva and What is Its Importance?
Saliva is a clear liquid that’s produced by salivary glands in your mouth, and they can produce up to 1.5 liters of saliva in a day. While saliva comprises mostly of water, it’s a mixture of electrolytes, proteins, and other organic molecules that serve a purpose with supporting oral health. These roles include:
· Keeping the mouth moist.
· Cleaning the gums and teeth.
· Helping with speaking and swallowing.
How Can Dry Mouth Occur?
While some people might not produce as much saliva because of natural factors like dehydration or anxiety, many develop dry mouth because of medications or treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy that inhibit the salivary glands from producing it.
Side Effects of Dry Mouth
When dry mouth occurs, your oral cavity can become swollen, and the dry environment means that you can’t clear food particles from your mouth as effectively. This leads to an imbalance of germs and bacteria in your mouth, which can cause several unsavory side effects, which can include:
· Bad breath
· Tooth decay
· Gum disease
· Difficulty swallowing and talking
· Difficulty wearing dentures
· Mouth sores
· Sore throat
The sensation of dryness can also be unpleasant to experience. Thankfully, there are a few things that you can do to relieve dry mouth and create a healthier environment for your mouth.
Treatment
Because dry mouth can become a chronic issue depending on the medication or treatment you’re prescribed by your healthcare provider, there are ways to help treat it effectively so that it’s more tolerable.
Because saliva is mostly water, it’s important to keep yourself hydrated. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids for your overall health, and drinking can help flush out bacteria and food particles as an extra benefit.
Another way to treat dry mouth is to chew sugarless gum. The act of chewing can trigger the salivary glands to produce more saliva.
Your diet can also help relieve dry mouth. Diuretics like coffee and tea can cause dehydration, and tobacco and alcohol can also produce the same results. Spicy and salty foods can also potentially irritate your mouth, so it’s good to moderate your consumption of all of these.
If possible, you can also talk to your healthcare provider to see if it’s possible to change medications safely. There are also certain medications that they can prescribe to help increase the production of saliva.
Conclusion
Dry mouth is a side effect from many medications and treatments that can lead to a lot of discomfort.
Without proper treatment, dry mouth can cause more serious conditions such as tooth decay and gum disease, but interventions such as drinking more and avoiding certain drinks and foods can help immensely. You can also talk to your healthcare provider about other options they can prescribe.
Overall, a dry mouth can be uncomfortable, but that doesn’t mean you have to endure it without intervention.
Sources:
WebMd. Saliva and Your Mouth. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/what-is-saliva
PubMed Central. Novel impacts of saliva with regard to oral health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8669010/
American Cancer Society. Dry Mouth and Thick Saliva. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/eating-problems/dry-mouth.html
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Dry Mouth. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/dry-mouth
Mayo Clinic. Dry Mouth. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-mouth/symptoms-causes/syc-20356048
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board