Everyone suffers from dry mouth every once in awhile, especially if they haven’t been drinking a lot of water or have consumed alcohol. However, the chronic dry mouth may be a sign of an underlying problem that needs to be addressed by Dentists Queens NY professional to prevent damage to gums and teeth. Here’s more information about the signs and causes of chronic dry mouth.
Symptoms of Chronic Dry Mouth
In addition to a constant dry sticky feeling in the mouth, chronic dry mouth may present with several symptoms including:
1. Bad breath
2. Cracked lips
3. Gum irritation
4. More cavities than normal
5. Difficulty tasting food, swallowing or even chewing
6. Oral sores
7. A burning sensation in the mouth
8. A dry tongue
These symptoms may occur all at the same time or onset at different times based on lifestyle activities or health conditions.
Causes of Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is typically the result of the saliva glands not producing enough saliva to keep the mouth moist. This can be caused by a number of issues. Possibly the most common is cigarette and cannabis smoking. Both of these activities cause saliva glands to become blocked or damaged, so they’re not able to function correctly.
The Disease is another common cause of chronic dry mouth. For example, the autoimmune disorder Sjogren’s syndrome makes the white blood cells in the body attack moisture-producing glands. People with this disease will typically also experience chronic dry eyes, fatigue, and joint pain.
Certain medications can also have a negative impact on saliva production. Dry mouth is a well-known side effect of the radiation and chemotherapy used to treat cancer. Certain decongestants, muscle relaxants, and pain medication also cause dry mouth as a side effect.
Treating Dry Mouth
Treating this problem depends on the cause. Switching to a different medication and stopping smoking of cigarettes and marijuana can help alleviate the issue. If dry mouth is caused by disease, then use of special toothpaste and mouthwashes to help stimulate saliva production while minimizing the damage caused by bacteria can be very beneficial.