Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is defined as a decrease in the flow and amount of saliva. It is no trivial ailment, and is certainly life-altering to the millions of people it victimizes. They may need to awaken frequently during the night to get drinks of water, or they may experience difficulty eating or swallowing. They may feel a burning sensation inside their mouths, develop sores on their lips from a lack of moisture, or have difficulty tasting foods or even speaking clearly. Some of the conditions now known to cause xerostomia include:

• Emotional disturbances such as depression, grief, worry or stress

• Medications, especially those taken by people over the age of 65. Drugs that decrease salivary flow include blood-pressure medications, anti-depressants, anti-convulsants, sedatives, decongestants, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, and cough medicines. The drugs that top the list of medications affecting the body's signal to produce saliva are psychiatric drugs as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Valium and Xanax. Blood pressure medicines such as Vasotec and Lopressor, pain relievers, acne medications and antihistamines also can cause dry mouth.

• Various illnesses and chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes

• Radiation treatments

• Vitamin deficiencies
  Dry mouth is the condition of not having enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. It is known as xerostomia

   

Xerostomia sufferers need to take extra care to keep their mouth clean since they are without the normal flushing, cleansing, and acid-neutralizing effects of normal salivary flow. In the absence of saliva, levels of bacterial colonies and plaque accumulations increase dramatically, leading to decay and an increased risk of periodontal disease. People with dry mouth are also more prone to fungal infections and nutrition problems. I suggest that they rinse frequently with a fluoride mouthwash, and HAVE more frequent dental check-up visits.

Experts on xerostomia stress that there is no all-purpose cure, and it can often bother its sufferers indefinitely. But, while science is working on a solution, here are some things that you can do if xerostomia is part of your life.

Check the medicines you are taking and talk to your physician for advice. Changing to another medication or reducing the dosage may help.

Avoid caffeine.

Avoid sugar - it can create a dry sensation in the mouth all by itself. Sucking on hard candy is not a good way to keep salivating; sugar-free gum is a much better substitute.

Certain products are available that can help correct this condition such as special chewing gum, artificial saliva replacement drops and oral rinses such as:

• Biotene Dry Mouth Gum, Sugar Free

• Salivart synthetic Saliva Spray

• Oral Balance Gel LACLEDE - from Auspharm

• Aquae spray (http://www.laclede.com)