In Spain, one in ten adults suffers from dry mouth. Known as xerostomia or dry mouth syndrome, this permanent sensation of dry mouth has important consequences for general health at different levels.
In addition to changing the patient's habits, today there are specific products to combat the decrease in saliva flow. Knowing the causes and detecting it in time are the first steps to deal with xerostomia.
If you are also asking yourself: "Why do I have a dry mouth?", we tell you everything you need to know to make your day-to-day life more comfortable.
What is xerostomia?
Dry mouth or xerostomia is the sensation of not having enough saliva in the oral cavity. It is a disorder caused by an alteration in the functioning of the salivary glands, which directly or indirectly causes a lack of moisture, as well as discomfort to perform certain actions.
The salivary glands are responsible for producing and secreting saliva, which is of utmost importance in the process of chewing and swallowing food. However, saliva is also involved in speech and plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the mouth.
Xerostomia mainly affects people over 50 years of age, although it can also occur in young people. It is of little importance when it is a one-time occurrence. However, when we talk about dry mouth syndrome, the sensation remains most of the time, and it is necessary to act in some way to treat it.
How to detect xerostomia?
The symptoms of dry mouth can be very varied in each patient. In addition to the discomfort caused by dry mouth, there are other characteristics that help us to detect the problem:
- Difficulty chewing, tasting and swallowing.
- Difficulty in speech.
- Rough tongue.
- Pain or burning in the tongue.
- Dry throat.
- Chapped lips.
- Pasty mouth.
- Excessive thirst.
These symptoms of dry mouth often go hand in hand, becoming more pronounced as the salivary glands become less effective in fulfilling their function. As time goes by, other problems derived from the lack of saliva may appear, which could affect the patient's own health.
What causes dry mouth?
There are many causes for the appearance of dry mouth syndrome or xerostomia. Most of them are related to daily habits, which with the passage of time and age make the symptoms more pronounced.
Among them we can highlight smoking, an inadequate diet, taking certain drugs or specific medical treatments. Some diseases or even a greater genetic predisposition to suffer from xerostomia may also be related.
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments, medications such as antihistamines, antidepressants, antihypertensives, anxiolytics, or diseases such as diabetes, contribute to a decrease in saliva production.
Consequences of dry mouth on oral health
In addition to participating in chewing and swallowing, another of saliva's functions is that of to maintain healthy oral mucosal tissues. Saliva contains lubricating, healing, pH regulating and even bactericidal substances for the elimination of pathogenic bacteria that may enter the oral cavity. Protect your mouth with our range of specialized products.
Discover our products for dry mouth and oral mucosa care
Therefore, a person who suffers from dry mouth has an increased risk of increased risk of tooth enamel damage, gum infections, and other mucosal conditions.
Lack of saliva is also related to halitosis or bad breath, which over time will be more pronounced in the patient if the corresponding treatment is not applied.
How long does xerostomia last?
The duration of this problem will depend on the reason for its occurrence. To recover an adequate production of saliva in a natural way by the salivary glands, it is necessary to know and counteract the cause.
Fortunately, there are specific treatments that help improve the overall condition of the oral cavity. Restoring lubrication can be as simple as increasing the hydration of the mouth through different means. And this will only take a few seconds.
How to stimulate the salivary glands?
The first step to combat xerostomia is to visit the dentist's office to determine its origin. After an evaluation of the state of the mouth and a personalized diagnosis of the patient, the treatment to be followed to restore the functioning of the salivary glands will be assessed.
When xerostomia is caused by an external agent, it is very easy to act against it. In all cases it is of utmost importance to make certain changes in order to alleviate the symptoms of dry mouth that will make the patient's daily life easier:
Change of habits
If the xerostomia is due to the use of certain drugs or treatments, the specialist will evaluate the possibility of suppressing or changing it. These other recommendations are very useful to improve the condition of the mouth and the natural production of saliva:
- Reduce or eliminate the consumption of foods rich in sugars or excessively spicy foods.
- Eliminate tobacco and alcohol completely.
- Drink water frequently to maintain good overall hydration.
- Extreme oral hygiene to prevent infections.
- Visit the dentist periodically, increasing the frequency about 2 times a year for a more exhaustive follow-up.
Products to relieve dry mouth
Due to the increasing number of patients suffering from xerostomia, a wide variety of products are now available on the market to alleviate the symptoms. The products in the KIN Hidrat line (e.g. toothpaste or moisturizing gel) are specifically designed to combat dry mouth and prevent problems such as caries.
Thanks to its high content of xylitol, it helps to restore the natural secretion of saliva. The toothpaste provides provitamin B5 and vitamin E, keeping gums healthier, both in the elderly and in young patients undergoing medical treatment.
Discover other products for dry mouth dry mouth and oral mucosa care from KIN. from KIN. We help you find the best tools to protect your oral health by effectively combating xerostomia.
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