5 common questions about dry mouth

Dry mouth is a frequent symptom of Sjögren’s syndrome, as very well as other disorders like diabetic issues and HIV/AIDS. With out ample saliva, or spit, it can be tough to split down foodstuff, swallow, and get care of your teeth.

The Countrywide Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Study answers five frequent concerns about dry mouth and Sjögren’s syndrome to assistance you navigate this tough ailment.

Is dry mouth a usual component of ageing?

No, dry mouth is not component of the ageing system by itself. However, as men and women age, numerous may perhaps establish conditions that have an impact on generating saliva and they may perhaps get remedies that can dry out the mouth.

What can induce dry mouth?

• Drugs. Dry mouth is a facet outcome of numerous styles of remedies, like individuals for depression, allergic reactions and colds, and substantial blood force.
• Dehydration. Dehydration comes about when you reduce additional fluids than you get in. Individuals of all ages can turn out to be dehydrated, but older grownups are specially susceptible to it.  
• Radiation remedy. Salivary glands can be damaged if they are uncovered to radiation for the duration of most cancers treatment.
• Chemotherapy. Drugs employed to take care of most cancers can make saliva thicker, resulting in the mouth to truly feel dry.
• Damage to the head or neck. A head or neck injuries can hurt the nerves that tell salivary glands to make saliva.

What can I do about dry mouth?

Check out your dentist or medical professional, who will check out to establish the induce and may perhaps:

• Advise changing, or altering the dosage of, a medication. But do not make any adjustments to your remedies ahead of conversing with your dentist or medical professional.
• Prescribe remedies to raise saliva.
• Recommend working with synthetic saliva.

Does dry mouth set me at threat for tooth decay?

Of course. Mainly because saliva guards versus tooth decay, having much less saliva can set you at threat. Preserve your teeth healthy by:

• Brushing at minimum two times a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Flossing often.
• Browsing your dentist at minimum two times a yr. You can ask your dentist if you need to have a prescription-toughness fluoride gel or rinse to assistance protect against cavities.

If I have Sjögren’s, what can my dentist advocate?

To guard your teeth, your dentist may perhaps advocate:

• Employing fluoride pastes, mouth rinses, gels, foams, or varnishes
• Ingesting ample quantities of water (8 to 12 eight-ounce eyeglasses each day)
• Stimulating saliva production working with sugarless lozenges, chewing gums, candies that contains xylitol, or remedies these as pilocarpine and cevimeline
• Implementing chlorhexidine, which can get rid of microbes
• Employing a calcium phosphate rinse to repair service tooth enamel