Dry Mouth (also called xerostomia) is a condition that occurs when the glands in the mouth that make saliva are not working properly and doesn’t produce enough saliva.
It can make you feel uncomfortable and sometimes be bothersome.
Dry Mouth can make it difficult to speak, eat, and digest food and can lead to malnutrition.
Saliva neutralizes acids and helps defend against tooth decay, and bacterial, viral, or fungal threats.
Saliva helps digest food and helps teeth in remineralization.
Saliva is also a very essential contributor to a person's ability to taste, as it acts as a solvent for the taste stimuli. There are many causes of dry mouth.
People complaining of dry mouth may exhibit some or all of the following symptoms: -Dry feeling in mouth-Dry feeling in throat, sore throat-Frequent thirst-Difficulty speaking, chewing, and swallowing (dysphagia)-Increased need to drink liquids in order to swallow-Diminished or altered sense of taste-Chapped or cracked lips-Hoarseness-Pale gums-Bad breath-Persistent cough-Dry nasal passages-Dry corners of mouth-Mouth sores, ulcers-White tongue indicative of a fungal infection like yeast (candidiasis)-Burning or tingling sensation in mouth, tongue, or throat-Red, bleeding gums, gingivitis, and periodontitisTreatment for dry mouth can be divided into the following four categories:-saliva preservation-saliva substitution-saliva stimulation and-prevention of caries and yeast (Candida) infection.
