5 common questions about dry mouth

Dry mouth is a frequent symptom of Sjögren’s syndrome, as nicely as other disorders like diabetes and HIV/AIDS. With no adequate saliva, or spit, it can be tricky to crack down meals, swallow, and consider treatment of your enamel.

The Countrywide Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research solutions five frequent questions about dry mouth and Sjögren’s syndrome to support you navigate this tough situation.

Is dry mouth a standard component of growing old?

No, dry mouth is not component of the growing old approach itself. Nonetheless, as men and women age, several may create disorders that impact producing saliva and they may consider medications that can dry out the mouth.

What can trigger dry mouth?

• Drugs. Dry mouth is a facet impact of several forms of medications, including these for despair, allergies and colds, and large blood stress.
• Dehydration. Dehydration takes place when you eliminate extra fluids than you consider in. People of all ages can grow to be dehydrated, but more mature adults are specially prone to it.  
• Radiation treatment. Salivary glands can be broken if they are uncovered to radiation during most cancers remedy.
• Chemotherapy. Drugs employed to handle most cancers can make saliva thicker, creating the mouth to sense dry.
• Damage to the head or neck. A head or neck injuries can hurt the nerves that inform salivary glands to make saliva.

What can I do about dry mouth?

Stop by your dentist or doctor, who will attempt to figure out the trigger and may:

• Recommend transforming, or changing the dosage of, a medicine. But do not make any alterations to your medications in advance of conversing with your dentist or doctor.
• Prescribe medications to raise saliva.
• Recommend applying synthetic saliva.

Does dry mouth place me at hazard for tooth decay?

Of course. Because saliva protects towards tooth decay, getting much less saliva can place you at hazard. Keep your enamel healthful by:

• Brushing at the very least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Flossing routinely.
• Visiting your dentist at the very least twice a year. You can question your dentist if you need to have a prescription-strength fluoride gel or rinse to support avoid cavities.

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

To defend your enamel, your dentist may recommend:

• Applying fluoride pastes, mouth rinses, gels, foams, or varnishes
• Drinking enough quantities of water (8 to twelve eight-ounce glasses every single day)
• Stimulating saliva output applying sugarless lozenges, chewing gums, candies that contains xylitol, or medications this kind of as pilocarpine and cevimeline
• Making use of chlorhexidine, which can kill bacteria
• Applying a calcium phosphate rinse to restore tooth enamel