How to Cope with Dry Mouth | Oral health

How to Cope with Dry Mouth - Useful saliva to moisten and cleanse the mouth and digest food. Saliva also prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth. But when the body does not produce enough saliva, the mouth will be dry and cause discomfort which is very annoying.

Dry mouth occurs because the saliva on the mucous membranes lining the mouth to be reduced. Saliva is very important for protecting health because it protects teeth from decay, helps the process of chewing and swallowing, help in food digestion and also kills bacteria and germs.

Common symptoms of dry mouth include:

1. Dry, sticky taste in the mouth
2. Frequent thirst
3. Sores in the mouth such as sores or split skin at the corners of the mouth and cracked lips
4. Dryness in the throat
5. Burning sensation or tingling in the mouth and especially on the tongue
6. Dry and red tongue
7. Problems during the speech and difficulty in tasting, chewing and swallowing
8. Hoarse voice, dry nose, sore throat
9. Bad breath 

There are some things that cause dry mouth, among others:


1. Side effects of certain drugs
Dry mouth is a common side effect of many drugs, such as drugs used to treat depression, anxiety, pain, allergies and colds (antihistamines and decongestants), obesity, acne, epilepsy, hypertension (diuretics), diarrhea, nausea, disturbance psychotic, incontinence (bladder), asthma (certain bronchodilators) and Parkinson's disease. Dry mouth is also a side effect of muscle relaxants and sedatives.

2. Side effects of the disease and certain infections
Dry mouth can be a side effect of medical conditions, such as Sjorgen syndrome, HIV / AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, anemia, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatism), hypertension, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and mumps.


3. Side effects of certain medical treatments
The damage to the salivary glands, namely the glands that produce saliva, which occurred due to radiation in head and neck, as well as chemotherapy for cancer treatment, can reduce the amount of saliva produced.

4. Nerve damage
Dry mouth can result from nerve damage due to head and neck injury or surgery.

5. Dehydration
Conditions that lead to dehydration, such as fever, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss and burns can cause dry mouth.

6. Lifestyle
Smoking or chewing tobacco can affect saliva production and aggravate dry mouth. Continue to breathe with mouth open can also contribute to the problem of dry mouth.

7. Surgical removal of salivary gland


There are several ways to prevent the occurrence of dry mouth when I wake up, among others:

- Expand consume water throughout the day.
- Before going to sleep try to avoid sweet or sour foods.
- Use a dessert that does not contain alcohol.
- No smoking.
- Use a nasal decongestant to clear the hole if you have trouble breathing through your nose during sleep.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine consumption.

There are several ways to cure dry mouth, among others, as follows:

1. Brush your teeth three times a day. Healthy teeth and gums that will produce saliva, which proper, and make the mouth moist and fresh.
2. Drink plenty of water along the water to help keep the mouth moist. However, it would be better helped if you drink water with small sips. This is because drinking water in big gulps will only make people urinate more often, and further exacerbate the dry mouth.
3. Avoiding caffeinated drinks, like tea, coffee and soda.
4. To prevent dryness, especially when you're eating, sip water in between meals will make food easier to chew.
5. Fishing salivary glands to salivate over. This can be done with sugar-free gum or candy. However, try not excessive because the excess sugar in the candy may cause disruption of dental caries.
6. Do consumption of cigarettes (tobacco) or alcohol, as this tends to increase the dryness of the mouth.
7. Avoiding foods that aggravate dry mouth, such as salty foods or spicy foods that can cause pain and irritation of the tongue and oral cavity.
8. Using a fluoride toothpaste to prevent the possible development of dental caries.
9. If the mouth sore, use warm salt water and baking soda rinses to reduce dryness.
10. Simple healing for dry mouth is to chew fibrous foods between meals, such as carrots and celery. This helps to increase saliva secretion and also does not cause dental caries.
11. Eat foods that are easier to chew and swallow.
12. Breathe through your nose, not mouth.
13. Consult with your doctor if you should be taking certain drugs that can cause dry mouth.