Learn About Dry Mouth : All About Dry Mouth

The technical term for Dry Mouth is Xerostomia (ZEER-oh-STOH-mee-ah). Dry Mouth refers to the perception of oral dryness, usually due to the lack of normal salivary secretions.

Millions suffer from "Dry Mouth"! It is a common problem and a growing problem. It not only impairs general health, but may also dramatically affect the quality of life.



What do I need to know about Dry Mouth?

Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while - if they are nervous, upset or under stress. Your saliva also naturally decreases at night which can allow the growth of harmful bacteria and plaque.

But if you have dry mouth all, or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and can lead to serious health problems.

Dry Mouth...

• Can cause difficulties in tasting, chewing, swallowing, and speaking
• Can increase your chance of developing dental decay and other infections in the mouth
• Can be a sign of certain diseases and conditions
• Can be caused by over 400 medications or medical treatments



Why is Saliva so Important?

Saliva provides a "first defense" against chemical, mechanical, and infectious attacks

• It helps digest food
• It protects teeth from decay
• It prevents infection by controlling against an overabundance of bacteria and fungi in the mouth

Without enough saliva you can lose your teeth to tooth decay at a very young age, or develop other infections in the mouth. You also might not get the nutrients you need if you cannot chew and swallow certain food



What Exactly is Saliva?

Saliva is the clear, usually alkaline, somewhat viscid secretion from three major saliva glands of the mouth: the parotid, submaxillary, and sublingual. Saliva consists of primarily of water, but also contains enzymes and other proteins, small organic molecules, electrolytes, and constituents of non-salivary origin.



What Causes Dry Mouth?

People get dry mouth when the glands in the mouth that make saliva are not working properly. Because of this, there might not be enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. There are several reasons why these your salivary glands might not work.

Examples:
• Side effects of medication. More than 400 medications can cause the salivary glands to make less saliva. As you get older, you tend to take more and more medications such as those for high blood pressure and depression.
• Disease. Some diseases affect the salivary glands. Sjogren's Syndrome, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease can all cause dry mouth.
• Radiation therapy. The saliva glands can be damaged if they are exposed to radiation during cancer treatment.
• Chemotherapy. Drugs used to treat cancer can make the saliva thicker, causing the mouth to feel dry and also causing difficulties in speaking.
• Nerve damage. Injury to the head or neck can damage the nerves that tell salivary glands to make saliva.

Some people feel a dry mouth even if their salivary glands are working correctly. People with certain disorders, like Alzheimer's disease or those who have suffered a stroke, may not be able to feel wetness in their mouth and complain about a dry mouth.



Symptoms Include?

• a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
• problems with chewing, swallowing, tasting, or speaking
• halitosis/mouth odor
• a burning feeling in the mouth
• cracked lips
• a dry, irritated tongue
• mouth sores
• sleep interruptions due to thirst
• gum inflammation or infection in the mouth
• difficultly in wearing dentures/prosthesis

Non Oral Symptoms

• dry throat • dry nose
• changes in sense of smell • heartburn
• dry or burning eyes • constipation
• dry skin/scalp • vaginal itching, dryness, history of fungal infections
• breathes through the mouth  



Clinical Signs and Complications

Depending on the cause of dry mouth, the following signs and complications vary form mild to severe:
• mucositis
• difficulty wearing dentures
• candidiasis: especially on the tongue and palate
• dental caries: increase in prevalence, located at the sites generally not susceptible to decay
• thicker,more stringy, whole saliva
• difficulty with milking saliva from the ducts of the major salivary glands
• loss of moist, glistening of the oral mucosa
• dryness of oral mucous membranes
• oral mucosa appears thin and pale
• fissuring and lobulation, dorsum of the tongue
• angular cheilsis/cheilitis
• gingivitis
• cracked, bleeding tissues




Dry Mouth Treatments That Work: Biotène & Oralbalance Contain The Lactoperoxidase Enzyme System

The Mouth's naturally occurring protective system comes from three pairs of salivary glands. When, for any reason, the amount of saliva is disrupted, this important antibacterial defense system is lost.

Only Biotène patented salivary enzyme products are capable of protecting the mouth the same way in which saliva does!

The doctor or dentist might suggest which products to use depending upon what is causing Dry Mouth.

How do Biotène and Oralbalance work?

The strength of the Biotène and Oralbalance products lies in their ingredients: they contain three enzymes and one protein found naturally in human saliva. Together, these ingredients recreate the natural oral balance found in the mouth, providing antibacterial and healing properties.
First, Biotène and Oralbalance contain an optimum concentration of a natural enzyme system that regulates the microbiological oral ecosystem: Glucose Oxidase and Lactoperoxidase.

Together these two enzymes work as a system to generate a constant flow of OSCN ions (hypothiocyanite), a strong antibacterial agent that should always be present in saliva.

In addition, Biotène and Oralbalance contain:
• Lysozyme, an enzyme which splits the cell wall of pathogenic bateria, and
• Lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein which inhibits pathogenic bacteria by depriving them of iron.
The combination of these natural ingredients creates a salivary enzyme system for a healthy mouth.



Tips for Managing Dry Mouth

• If your dry mouth is caused by medicine, your physician might change your medicine or adjust the dose.
• Visit your dentist regularly for prophylatic maintenance. Request fluoride treatments.
• Maintain meticulous oral hygiene using SLS-free, fluoridated (Biotène Toothpaste)
• Moisten your mouth with Oralbalance. May be used under dental prostheses.
• Chew sugarless, enzymatic moisturing gum, Biotène Dental Gum.
• Avoid alcoholic, carbonated, citrus and caffeine-containing drinks.
• Apply lip lubricants or balms as required.
• Drink liquids with meals and use gravies, sauces, yogurt, broth, margarines, and mayonnaise to make food easier to swallow
• puree foods or try soft foods like macaroni and cheese, stews, mashed potatoes, soup, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, canned fruits and vegetables, yogurt and ice cream.
• Avoid dry foods such as cookies, toast and crackers, or soften them with liquids before eating.
• Carry a small water bottle so you can take frequent sips during the day.
• Suck sugarless hard candies (avoiding those with citric acid).
• Avoid overly salty foods.
• Avoid chewable vitamin C and acidic, sugared lozenges.