Table of Contents
How does dry mouth come about?
Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is primarily caused by the lack of normal salivary flow in the oral cavity. We need saliva to keep our mouth moist so we can digest the food we eat. Saliva is also needed to clean the oral cavity. This prevents infections because saliva ensures that bacteria and fungi cannot spread. Those who produce too little of it have a dry mouth and this is very uncomfortable. Dry mouth can be very distressing and in some cases should be monitored to prevent illness and infection.
Reduced activity of the salivary glands is most commonly found in older people, but it can affect anyone at any age. Dry mouth is often related to a systemic disease or the medications used to treat it. Dry mouth can also affect women during and after menopause.
What are the symptoms of dry mouth?
The symptoms that occur with or as a result of dry mouth are diverse and restrict many people’s everyday lives. The most common side effects include:
- Dryness in the mouth down to the throat
- Viscous saliva
- Increase in plaque formation
- Bad breath
- sores in the mouth
- Cracked corners of the mouth and chapped lips
- Excessive thirst
- Sore throat
- hoarseness
- difficulty speaking
- loss of taste
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing
- Dry nasal passages
- development of gum disease
These symptoms can occur individually or together, depending on the severity of the dry mouth. Above all, the burden of problems when speaking and other limiting symptoms make it difficult for those affected to deal with dry mouth. There are many causes of decreased salivation, but there are also some things you can do yourself.
What can you do about dry mouth?
- Get your salivary glands going. With Cayenne Pepper – When our taste buds and nerve endings experience an extreme stimulant, the body’s natural response is to produce saliva. For example, when we eat something spicy, we start salivating to relieve the burning sensation. So if you suffer from dry mouth, take some cayenne powder and rub it on your tongue or gums.
- Sour is fun and makes you salivate profusely! Lemon is a good home remedy for dry mouth. The citric acid found in lemons and lemon juice can quickly stimulate saliva production. In addition, the antibacterial effect of the citrus fruit protects the mouth from infections and thus reduces the risk of bad breath and other dental problems. You can easily put a slice of lemon on your tongue. The combination of lemon juice and honey is also helpful. This way you can quickly get the dryness in your mouth under control again.
- One of the oldest remedies for dry mouth: aloe vera. Rich in antioxidants, nutrients and naturally hydrating substances, aloe vera juice can also stimulate saliva production in the mouth. You probably know aloe vera from moisturizing skin creams . This plant can have the same effect on your dry mouth.
- water, water, water. Hydration is incredibly important. While dehydration isn’t the only cause of dry mouth, not drinking enough water from your body can make dry mouth worse.
- Dry air leads to dry mouth. Get a humidifier! If you regularly wake up in the middle of the night and suffer from dry mouth, it may be because the area around your bedroom is too dry. Getting a humidifier can be a simple and effective way to deal with dry mouth and ensure you have a restful, uninterrupted sleep.
- Observe the effects of different drugs. If you have xerostomia and are taking medication, this could be the cause of your dry mouth. Try talking to your doctor about an alternative medication that doesn’t have dry mouth as a permanent side effect.
- Consciously change your breathing pattern. One of the quickest ways to get dry mouth is to constantly breathe through your mouth. As far as possible, you should try to consciously breathe through your nose to relieve your oral mucosa.
Better to avoid these things
However, if you suffer from dry mouth, there are some things you should avoid doing for a while. In order to avoid xerostomia as quickly as possible, you should pay attention to the foods you eat and also let certain habits rest for a while.
Can Food Make Dry Mouth Worse? Definitive. If you have a dry mouth, it can make chewing and swallowing difficult. For many people it is an experiment to find out what they can and cannot eat the first time. But there are general things you should avoid.
- This includes, for example, bread with a lot of crust. Crusty breads are difficult to chew and swallow. Instead of irritating your mouth with it, you should avoid such bread or use sauces to soften the crust.
- In general, acidic foods should be avoided.
- Just like acidic foods, salty foods irritate the inside of the mouth. If you want to eat spicy food, you should first think about what, for example, spicy food can do. Because without saliva to protect the oral mucosa, spicy foods can be particularly irritating.
- Another important point is not to use sugar. Saliva serves many purposes in digestion and one of them is to break down the sugars in food. One of the reasons people with dry mouth are at increased risk of developing dental problems like tooth decay and infection is because sugar isn’t broken down properly. Because of the increased risk, it’s best to avoid sugary foods and drinks.
- Unfortunately, caffeine also causes your mouth to become drier.
- The same also happens with smoking. Tobacco consumption also dries out the mucous membranes. Of course, it is best if it is possible to eliminate the cause in the long term.
