In addition to its antibacterial benefits, saliva also benefits the person’s oral and dental care. When saliva is secreted less, the environment is prepared for the reproduction of even the weakest microorganisms. Saliva is also effective in keeping the mouth moist and adjusting the pH balance.
Saliva; It helps digest food, protects teeth from decay, prevents infection by controlling bacteria in the mouth, facilitates chewing and swallowing. If you have a dry mouth, it means you don’t have enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. Insufficient amount of saliva also leads to a decrease in some minerals such as calcium and phosphate in the salivary structure. If dry mouth caused by lack of saliva is ignored, this problem goes up to gingival inflammation.
dry mouth; It occurs as a result of decreased salivary secretion functions of the salivary glands. Insufficient amount of saliva also leads to a decrease in some minerals such as calcium and phosphate in the salivary structure. The lack of minerals causes an increase in dental caries. Dry mouth can occur with the use of blood pressure, allergies, antidepressants, drugs or after radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
What Causes Dry Mouth?
The use of various drugs is among the most important causes of dry mouth. These drugs inhibit the secretion of saliva, causing less saliva production in the mouth. It can also directly cause dry mouth in various diseases.
Dry Mouth Symptoms:
- Burning sensation in tongue
- Speech difficulties
- Frequent thirst
- Difficulty using prosthesis
- Bad breath
- Decreased taste, disorder, metal taste
- Dryness in the nose and throat
- Chapped lips
- Difficulty eating especially for dry foods
- Aphthae
How xerostomia can take under control?
- The habit of drinking water frequently should be gained,
- Avoid smoking, alcohol, sugary foods,
- The humidity of the living space should be adjusted,
- Artificial saliva tablets should be used,
- Bacterial plaque should be kept under control,
- Fluoride toothpaste, gel, mouthwash should be used,
- Vitamin C supplements should be taken.
- Chew sugarless gum to stimulate saliva flow.
- Avoid caffeinated beverages that can cause dry mouth, such as coffee, tea or some sodas.
- Tobacco or alcohol should not be used as it may cause dryness in the mouth.
- Avoid spicy or salty foods that are known to cause pain in a dry mouth.
If dry mouth is not taken into account; It will bring along complaints such as an increase in caries formation, gum diseases, difficulty in swallowing, decrease or deterioration in the sense of taste, deformation on the tongue, cracking of the lips, enlargement of the salivary glands. You can have a healthier oral structure thanks to early diagnosis and treatment in many oral and dental disorders. Dry mouth should not be taken lightly and a specialist should be consulted.