Xerostomia, sometimes also referred to as pasties, drooth, and cottonmouth, is a medical term which is used to describe a lack of saliva or dry mouth. The condition is most commonly seen in regular smokers but can be caused by a number of other factors such as excessive mouth breathing, methamphetamines, teeth grinding as well.
Other aspects, such as depression, alcohol abuse, radiation therapy, and lack of fresh water, can lead to the condition as well. A few of the factors can also be clues that a more complex or serious underlying condition is to blame. Another common factor of dry mouth is hypersalivation, which is an insufficient spirt production, that could occasionally mean that other conditions like diabetes, SS Syndrome, or Lambert-Eaton Syndrome might be present.
Radiation therapy is a regular cause of excessive dry mouth and permanent salivary hypofunction. Chemotherapy is a common therapy for those with cancerous tumors, particularly in the head and neck and features a systematic destruction of the body's cells, including salivary. Most patients report a significant decrease in salivating, about sixty to ninety percent, roughly ten to fifteen days after starting irradiation. Unless the person is prescribed topical creams or other medications by their doctors and take them regularly throughout their treatment, they could risk suffering from permanent dry mouth.
Xerostomia is also generally a side effect of various drugs, both prescription and illegal. Medications such as certain antidepressants and antihistamines can all lead to problematic dry mouth, as can illegal substances such as marijuana, heroin, and other street drugs. The condition is a common complaint among the elderly, even though various studies have recently found that the disease is not age related. Its prevalence among older citizens instead means that the type of prescriptions they take are to blame.
In depth studies were done on the high number of instances diagnosed among the senior population in order to root out a common cause. They discovered that the dry mouth issue was fairly common among senior citizens, yet that it was not directly correlated to the act of aging. Instead, the disease was more of a effect of the elderly's eating, drinking, and medication habits. However, their age may seem at first glance to be a lot more of a agent thanks to the fact that most seniors take the drugs which have been found to lead to the condition.
For most patients of chronic xerostomia, treatments are based on first determining and correcting any underlying causes or diseases. To alleviate the condition and prevent further damage to the gums and teeth, most physicians will immediately start treating the disease's symptoms as well.
Patients are first suggested to stop taking their antibiotics, antihistamines, and other prescriptions and to commit to regular mouth hygiene. Special medication laced chewing gums are suggested as are non carbonated beverages. Especially bad cases occasionally warrant the use of special pastes and creams as well, though they generally work just as placebos.
An extremely bad case could sometimes negate the need for topical creams and medicated toothpastes as well, although in many cases the only work as good placebos.
Author Resource:-
Xerostomia, known as dry mouth, is a common problem primarily affecting Women, elderly people and those using certain prescribed drugs. Biotene provides a product line of oral health products to provide relief, hygiene and stimulation.
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