{"id":7285,"date":"2024-04-03T11:27:59","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T09:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/clinicapardinas.com\/dry-mouth-xerostomia\/"},"modified":"2024-04-03T11:27:59","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T09:27:59","slug":"dry-mouth-xerostomia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clinicapardinas.com\/en\/dry-mouth-xerostomia\/","title":{"rendered":"Dry Mouth Or Xerostomia – Causes And Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Xerostomia or dry mouth sensation is the result of an\u00a0inadequate saliva flow<\/strong>. It is not a disease, but a symptom of a medical disorder, the consequence of certain habits or life situations, or a side effect of certain medications. We talk about the causes and treatments of dry mouth in this article:<\/p>\n

1) The importance of saliva in health<\/h2>\n

Brushing your teeth and using mouthwash and flossing is essential to maintain proper oral hygiene. However, these procedures alone are not able to remove all microbes in the mouth. Collaboration of saliva is needed. Saliva is composed of a mixture of enzymes, nutrients and antibodies which\u00a0act against pathogenic organisms<\/strong>. It\u2019s also an ally in the working process of teeth and gums. Saliva enzymes initiate food digestion. Mainly, enzymes break down carbohydrates into smaller units and simple sugars. In fact these sugars are used by bacteria to feed and to produce acids, but saliva regulates the pH of the mouth avoiding the development of these acids.<\/p>\n

Saliva is the\u00a0mouth’s main defense against tooth decay<\/strong>, as it breaks down food and other waste, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, and provides disease-fighting substances throughout the mouth. Without saliva, cavities and other diseases can progress very quickly. Besides this digestive and antibacterial function, saliva also consists of mineral ions, especially calcium and phosphate, which are the materials from which teeth are formed. Therefore, saliva helps to remineralize teeth and to repair small lesions in the enamel. The importance of saliva is such that the body produces about a liter a day, especially during meals. To generate the right amount of saliva it is very important to keep the body hydrated. At night, saliva production is stopped or minimized, which is why sometimes people wake up with their mouths completely dry and even with bad breath.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

2) Causes of dry mouth<\/h2>\n

As we mentioned previously, dry mouth is not a disease in itself, but rather a symptom that can be caused by some systemic\u00a0disease or the side effect of certain medications or treatments<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

2a) Sj\u00f6gren’s syndrome<\/h3>\n

In certain cases, dry mouth may be an indicator of Sj\u00f6gren’s syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the\u00a0body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own glands, producers<\/strong>\u00a0of saliva and tears, as well as other organs. This medical condition can cause the appearance of ulcers or canker sores in the mouth, deterioration of the teeth and inflammation of the gums.\u00a0Sj\u00f6gren’s syndrome<\/a>\u00a0is not the only disease that can cause dry mouth: diabetes too.<\/p>\n

2b) Diabetes and dry mouth<\/h3>\n

Diabetes is closely related to dry mouth. On the one hand, due to the high blood glucose levels of diabetics,\u00a0the body tries to eliminate excess glucose through urine<\/strong>. This process can lead to dehydration which can cause dry mouth. On the other hand, Diabetes can affect the function of the salivary glands and reducing saliva production. Besides, some medications used to treat diabetes can have side effects including xerostomia.<\/p>\n

2c) Salivary gland disorders<\/h3>\n

These organs are the producers of saliva so\u00a0any condition can trigger episodes of dry mouth<\/strong>. The problem most related to this disorder is sialolithiasis, which is the formation of stones (sialoliths) in the drainage ducts of the salivary glands or in the gland itself, reducing or preventing the release of saliva.<\/p>\n