Chitika

Chitika

måndag 28 september 2009

How to Tackle Dry Mouth Condition

By Brian Warren

One commonly occurring problem among older folks, especially women, is the dry mouth condition. It is technically called Xerostomia by doctors. This condition is because of the lack of saliva in the mouth to keep it wet and causes severe pain for the patients.

Xerostomia or dry mouth is now a common condition among young adults too. The common symptoms of Xerostomia are: 1. Cracked lips 2. Mouth sores 3. A sticky, dry feeling in your mouth and tongue 4. Difficulty in chewing, swallowing, tasting, or talking 5. Frequent bad breath 6. Dentures that do not fit comfortably

Saliva is used for chewing, swallowing and digesting the food. Saliva is basically used to protect of teeth, by washing away the all residual matter like sugar or acids produced by bacteria. When saliva becomes less or it cannot be produced sufficiently, this dry mouth condition occurs in patients.

There are many health problems which can arise due to Xerostomia. 1.Reduced saliva flow results in lower pH levels in the mouth, increasing the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath and oral infections. 2.It can lead to dryness; a burning or sore feeling in the mouth or throat; bad or reduced taste; dentures becoming loose; difficulty in chewing, swallowing and even speaking.

It is important for each one of us to follow certain preventive measures to avoid Xerostomia or dry mouth condition. It is important to practice good hygiene by brushing/flossing regularly and gargling on a regular basis. Eat good food substitutes like celery, healthy liquids and parsley since they retain moisture content.

People need to consume more than 8 glasses of water everyday and also avoid caffeine and alcohol. It is important not to sleep with an open mouth. Ensure you make a conscious effort to breathe through the nose. Steaming can also be of great help here. The market is filled with various dry mouth products. There are medicinal lozenges that are highly effective for dry mouth condition. Choose only lozenges that offer long lasting relief.

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