How to stimulate saliva secretion?

Saliva plays a fundamental role in protecting the mouth. In addition to preventing dental problems such as caries or gum disease, it is necessary to act to stimulate the secretion of saliva when there is a problem of dry mouth, favoring such essential functions as speech or the swallowing process when eating.

Do you also have a dry mouth dry mouth and have bothersome symptoms in your daily life? Don't let xerostomia limit you.

Discover with this practical guide how to stimulate saliva secretion through the best care and techniques that will help you improve your oral health in a natural and effective way.

Dry mouth: a current problem

Dry mouth, xerostomia or hyposalivation is nowadays one of the most common conditions among the adult population. It is a disorder that affects the production of saliva by the salivary glands, which is insufficient to fulfill its basic functions.

Saliva has multiple functions, such as participating in the digestive process, lubricating the oral cavity and throat when swallowing, regulating the pH of the mouth, acting as a protector of tooth enamel and neutralizer of acids released by oral bacteria, or a healing and protective function against infections that may occur in the soft tissues.

When saliva production is insufficient, the health of the mouth can worsen considerably. This is not just a functional problem or a temporary discomfort. Saliva is vital for our mouth, teeth and gums to be 100% protected against certain common problems.

What factors affect salivary secretion?

There are multiple factors that negatively affect the correct production of saliva. The causes have varied greatly in recent years due to multiple external agents and certain practices that directly or indirectly alter the function of the salivary glands.

Among the main causes of a lower salivary secretion we can highlight:

• Bad habits, such as smoking, drinking alcohol or excessive consumption of stimulant beverages.
• Emotional factors such as stress or anxiety.
• Inflammation of the salivary glands, usually related to a bacterial infection.
• Diseases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, arthritis, anorexia or bulimia nervosa.
• Other pathologies such as Sjögren's syndrome or HIV.
• Medical treatments with antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, radio or chemotherapy, among others.

In addition to this, there are other associated risk factors such as aging, which increases the possibility of suffering from dry mouth syndrome at older ages.

What stimulates saliva secretion?

For the prevention or treatment of dry mouth, there are some tips that you can apply in your daily life, improving saliva secretion. Here are some guidelines to follow to alleviate the symptoms:

Daily hydration

Sometimes without realizing it, dry mouth can appear as a direct symptom of dehydration. It is very important to drink enough water, and in case of any xerostomia problem, to increase hydration above 2 liters of water per day.

Foods to stimulate salivary secretion

There are some foods that can help increase salivary flow. Among them are aged cheese and low-fat dairy products, crunchy fruits and vegetables, and other foods rich in vitamin E and C.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine consumption.

It is very important to reduce, or better to avoid completely, the consumption of alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. Both have a dehydrating effect both in the mouth and at a general level in the whole organism, causing the appearance or increasing the symptoms of xerostomia.

Maintaining optimal oral hygiene

Dry mouth leads to a greater predisposition to caries or periodontal diseases. For this reason it is highly important to increase oral hygiene, using specific products for the care of dry mouth such as those in the line KIN Hidrat.

These products help to improve salivary secretion, while offering extra protection against the prevention of oral problems. Also opt for an alcohol-free Mouthwash , complementing the daily routine with the use of dental floss or interdental brushes.

Use of moisturizing gels

When the sensation of dry mouth becomes very annoying, oral moisturizing gels can be a great alternative. They are an excellent aid when swallowing or speaking, refreshing the oral mucosa in a timely and immediate manner.

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How to stimulate saliva secretion outside the home?

A very convenient alternative to do outside the home when you do not know how to stimulate saliva secretion is the use of a mouth spray. Moisturizing sprays can be used as often as necessary, spraying directly inside the oral cavity to achieve complete moisturization.

Ask your dentist about the best tips to stimulate saliva secretion that you can put into practice every day, thus avoiding the typical discomfort of dry mouth.