Have you ever noticed that your mouth feels really dry when you wake up, then you’re not alone? But there are plenty of reasons why you could be experiencing dry mouth.” It’s a normal part of aging. As we age, our saliva glands become less efficient at producing enough saliva to keep our mouths moist. Some medications can make your mouth feel really dry, like antihistamines or antidepressants. Certain conditions can cause you to lose your sense of taste. Get More Info About dry mouth treatment

In This Article, We will discuss the top 10 reasons for dry mouth so you can find out what causes dry mouth.

There are many causes of dry mouth, the common ones being dentures that aren’t cleaned properly or certain prescription drugs. Other causes could be:

• Gum disease(Sjögren’s syndrome, periodontitis)
• Illness and treatments (cancer treatment, neck surgery)
• Smoking,
• Improper brushing
• Certain medications
• Infections such as fungal infections and yeast infection

There are even over 500 drugs that will cause dry mouth, including:

• Antidepressants.
• Antihistamines,
• Oral steroids,
• Decongestants,
• Pain killers,
• Sleeping pills.

Anything prescribed or overused will contribute to dry mouth, and you should make sure that it is stopped because of the risk of tooth decay.

Causes And Symptoms Of Dry Mouth:

Salivary Gland Dysfunction:

Another extreme dry mouth cause is dysfunctioning of salivary glands in which the patient faces saliva deficiency. This occurs when your body isn’t producing enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. It could be due to various medical conditions, such as diabetes, glandular problems, neurological disorders, or dehydration.

Dehydration:

Dehydration, especially extreme dehydration, can lead to tooth decay if left untreated. If you suffer from severe dehydration, you may experience an upset stomach, seizures, a rapid heartbeat, increased nervousness, and a dry mouth. These signs should prompt you to seek emergency medical care. Because of the danger involved in not seeking medical attention for your dehydration, it’s important to brush your teeth regularly and drink plenty of water to compensate for the loss of saliva. Dry Mouth causes cracked lips. Brushing will also help remove food particles stuck in between your teeth, leading to more cavities and more frequent trips to the dentist.

Xerostomia:

One of the more common extreme dry mouth causes is xerostomia. This condition occurs when you produce significant amounts of saliva but no foods or liquids to moisten your mouth. While xerostomia often occurs after eating or drinking something containing sugar, it can also occur without food or liquid to reduce saliva production.

Radiation Poisoning:

Another extreme dry mouth cause is radiation poisoning. Radiation poisoning can occur when you are exposed to high levels of radiation, such as in the case of having an x-ray, being involved in a nuclear war, or undergoing general radiation treatment. The most common symptom of radiation poisoning is the extreme dry mouth that increases when drinking liquids. Radiation poisoning has been known to cause a reduction in saliva even after the patient has been treated and can lead to serious dental health problems.

Sore Throat:

It is usually caused by a virus and can lead to congestion, difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness. However, sometimes it can be a symptom of something more serious, such as an illness such as pneumonia or even cancer. You can treat it with antibiotics, but you should consult your doctor if it does not go away after a few days or you experience further symptoms such as fever or chills. A sore throat can be a warning sign of lung disease or pneumonia, so you should get it checked out right away.

Bad Breath:

Many people experience halitosis at some point in their lives, but if it is chronic or severe, it can signal other, more serious medical problems. Chronic bad breath can be caused by mouth sores, gum disease, or infections, so see your dentist if you are experiencing this. Bad breath can also be caused by other things such as poor oral hygiene, cigarette smoking, or drinking alcohol.

Sugary Foods:

Sugary foods can cause cavities when combined with saliva and left in your mouth for too long. It is one of the reasons why it is important to brush your teeth regularly- not only will it reduce the harmful bacteria that cause plaque, but it also reduces the risk of cavities from sugary foods. If you are experiencing dry mouth symptoms, you should avoid sugary foods.

Spicy Foods:

Spicy foods are also hard on your teeth, although it is unclear why. One theory is that capsaicin, the compound that gives chilies their heat, can desiccate saliva after just a few bites. If you experience dry mouth symptoms and high blood pressure, then try reducing them in your diet.

Mouth Breathing:

Mouth breathing is another of the more common causes of dry mouth. It is especially harmful to your oral health because it deprives your salivary glands of oxygen and saliva needed for teeth cleaning. You should also be aware that if you or your child are experiencing symptoms such as snoring, sleep apnea, allergies, asthma, or a cold, it may signify that you or your child is mouth breathing at nighttime. If the dry mouth symptoms are not present during the daytime, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Dry Mouth Treatments:

You can manage dry mouth by following the treatments for the dry mouth:

Sugar-Free Ice Pops:

Dry Mouth is treated by using sugar-free ice pops, which are the least effective way to reduce the bacteria that cause dry mouth. You can also suck on sugar-free candies to increase saliva production. It is normally found at your local grocery store.

Oral Medicine And Ice Cubes:

Suppose you are experiencing the underlying condition of dry nasal passages that causes burning sensation and tingling sensation. In that case, your doctor may recommend using an oral medicine as a dry mouth treatment to increase the flow of saliva production in your mouth. Some examples of these are pilocarpine and cevimeline. You can also use ice cubes to cure nerve damage and help stimulate the nerves responsible for salivation.

Fruit Juice:

According to the American dental association, avoiding acidic foods and increasing fresh fruit juices not only decreases dry mouth symptoms but also moisturizes your mouth as it contains vitamins and minerals that make your teeth healthy. Other drinks such as dairy and soy milk are good to relieve dry mouth symptoms, although you can avoid acidic beverages such as alcohol. If you do not prefer juices or other liquids, try chewing sugar-free gum to promote saliva production and mouth wet.

Chew Sugarless Gum:

It increases saliva production and reduces the risk of cavities and mouth dryness. By Chewing sugarless gum, you can strengthen your jaw muscles because it keeps them active.

Artificial Salivary Gland:

Artificial salivary glands can be implanted into the mouth or through a skin graft to stimulate saliva flow. Artificial Saliva substitute is different from the parotid duct because they bypass the main gland directly into the mouth. It is expensive and involves complex surgery, so there are various ways of stimulating saliva flow in your mouth.

Brush To Prevent And Treat Dry Mouth:

Dry Mouth medically reviewed that the best way to prevent tooth decay and other medical conditions is to brush and floss regularly, brush your tongue, and rinse your mouth with warm water at least twice a day. It keeps the mouth healthy.

It will help eliminate bacteria from your mouth so that your digestion process will be more efficient, and the food you eat will be more easily digested. Brush your teeth at least twice per day with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

If you are experiencing dry mouth symptoms, make sure to change your toothbrush every 2 months. It may also be helpful to use fluoride toothpaste whenever possible.

For patients who experience dry mouth symptoms at night, it is important to avoid sticky and sugary foods before bed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, dry mouth can be caused by many things. The most common cause of Severe dry mouth is dehydration. Dehydration happens when you don’t drink enough water and can lead to various health problems—other common causes, including poor diet, stress, and medications.

 If You Want to Know what causes Extreme dry mouth, Read this Article Now.