It is a condition that occurs with a decrease in salivary secretion. Considering that saliva has important functions such as keeping the mouth wet, tasting, digesting food, protecting teeth and oral mucosa, and preventing oral infections, it is obvious that bigger problems will arise if dry mouth is not treated. In patients with dry mouth, bad breath, bad taste, increase in mouth and tooth infections, mouth and tongue pain, difficulty in swallowing and digestive disorders are seen.
Common causes in the community
- Drugs and multiple drug use (allergy drugs, painkillers, nasal decongestants, diuretic drugs, blood pressure and depression drugs) dry mouth is a common finding.
- Dry mouth may occur as a symptom in diseases such as AIDS, lymphoma, diabetes and Parkinson’s.
- Dry mouth can be seen in salivary gland stones, tumors and infections, since the salivary gland cannot function.
- Radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment cause dry mouth by damaging the salivary glands.
- In rheumatic diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome, the salivary gland may be involved and the secretion may be lost.
- Diseases such as Anorexia Nervosa and Type 1 diabetes can also cause dry mouth.
- Continuous mouth breathing may cause dryness in the mouth due to diseases that prevent nasal breathing (septum deviation, polyp, sinusitis, nasal flesh enlargement, etc.).
- In conditions that cause hormonal changes such as menopause, andropause, and pregnancy, salivation may decrease and nasal breathing may be impaired.
- Insufficient fluid intake is a condition especially seen in the elderly.
After diagnosis, treatment should be based on the cause. For this reason, the cause or causes of dry mouth must be revealed. In drug-related causes, dryness can be eliminated by drug changes if possible, and in some irreversible conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome, drugs that work the salivary glands and salivary substrates can be used. However, xerostomia is corrected by correcting the problems that prevent nasal breathing. Lifestyle is important in patients with dry mouth. Since cigarettes, alcohol, acidic beverages, sugar and caffeine-containing foods and spices will reduce saliva secretion, their consumption should be limited. Frequent consumption of water and watery foods, apple and citrus fruit consumption may be beneficial.
It should not be forgotten that dry mouth seen in salivary gland diseases may be the first sign of a salivary gland tumor, and that gland stones or infections can lead to permanent and much more serious problems if not treated for a long time. Since the oral structures will be unprotected in the long-term loss of salivary secretion, there may be an increase in oral wounds, especially aphthae. The susceptibility to tongue and mouth tumors increases.
