Have you been noticing a dry, gritty feeling in your mouth? Is it difficult for you to chew food, swallow or even to talk?
If so, you may have dry mouth (xerostomia), a common symptom that is associated with a number of causes. People develop dry mouth when the glands that produce saliva fail to work properly. The resulting lack of saliva causes everyday processes like chewing food and talking to become difficult. Dry mouth also increases the risk of developing mouth infections and tooth decay.
What conditions cause dry mouth?
Various conditions can cause the salivary glands to slow down their production of lubricating saliva. These include:
- Side effects of medication. More than 400 medications can cause the salivary glands to make less saliva. These include antidepressants, antihistamines, antihypertensives, antipsychotics, beta blockers and diuretics.
- Certain health conditions. Some health conditions and their treatments affect the salivary glands. Sjögren's Syndrome (a systemic autoimmune disease that attacks and damages the salivary, tear and mucus-secreting glands), HIV/AIDS, diabetes, asthma, Parkinson’s disease and kidney dialysis can all cause dry mouth.
- Radiation treatment. The salivary glands may be damaged if they are exposed to radiation during cancer treatment.
- Chemotherapy. Some drugs used to treat cancer can make the saliva thicker, causing the mouth to feel dry. This thickened saliva can also make speaking difficult.
- Nerve damage. Injury to the head or neck can damage the nerves that relay messages to the salivary glands.
Are there other symptoms?
Many people don’t know that they have dry mouth since they don’t actually experience a sensation of dryness. Other symptoms of dry mouth include inflammation and/or bleeding of the gums; cracked lips; plaque build-up on teeth; an increase in cavities; decreased or ropy saliva, and bad breath.
How is dry mouth treated?
Biotène® formulations, available from London Drugs, provide effective relief from dry mouth. The products are formulated with three enzymes and a protein found in natural saliva. Together, these ingredients recreate and boost the mouth’s natural defense system to provide antibacterial protection and healing properties.
All Biotène® products are free from potentially irritating ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulphate and alcohol, and use xylitol and sorbitol as sweeteners. The Biotène® Oral Balance® saliva substitute gel contains aloe vera to help soothe dry, irritated tissues.