Xerostomia: Causes, Consequences and Treatments for Optimal Oral Health

Also called dry mouth disease, xerostomia appears as an inability of the salivary glands to produce a sufficient quantity of saliva. 😖

However, it should be noted that this glandular inactivity is not really a disease, but rather the manifestation of an underlying pathology. This disorder can also be an adverse effect due to taking one or more medications.

However, saliva plays a crucial role in maintaining good oral health. Contributing to the digestion process, it reduces the risk of tooth decay.

Capable of affecting all ages, dry mouth mainly affects adults, with prevalence among the elderly. To properly treat it, you must first determine the cause based on the symptoms observed. Find the causes, consequences and treatments of xerostomia for optimal oral health.

Dry mouth disease can have various origins. Overview of the most likely factors.

Certain medications can cause xerostomia by inhibiting normal saliva production . Used to treat allergies, antihistamines block the action of histamine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates normal saliva production. 💊

The use of antidepressants and diuretics can lead to a similar consequence. The same phenomenon can happen when you take certain medications for blood pressure, anxiety, and pain.

Radiation therapy to treat a brain or neck tumor can damage the salivary glands and cause xerostomia. 😷

In fact, this intervention causes radiation likely to harm the cells of said glands and alter their functioning. The disorder may be temporary or permanent, depending on the dose of radiation received and the area treated.

Certain autoimmune pathologies can cause dry mouth. This is particularly the case for Sjögren's syndrome , which manifests itself as a dysfunction of the immune system. From then on, it considers the salivary and tear glands as foreign bodies and attempts to destroy them. 💧

This results in a reduction in the secretion of saliva and tears . Other common manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome include dry eyes, joint and muscle pain, fatigue, and vaginal dryness.

Countless other factors can contribute to the feeling of dry mouth . For example, there is aging. Indeed, as an adult ages, the amount of saliva produced by their body decreases more and more.

This condition can be a consequence of smoking and alcohol consumption . Indeed, alcohol and tobacco tend to irritate the salivary glands. 🍷

The consequences of this condition may vary from one patient to another. Here are the most common effects.

Important in chewing and swallowing food, saliva occupies a vital place in the digestion process. In its absence, food is more difficult to chew and swallow.

Additionally, dry mouth can cause pronunciation problems and make speaking difficult. In fact, salivating also helps lubricate the mouth and makes it easier to raise your voice. 🗣

Difficulty salivating can increase the risk of cavities and oral infections , because saliva plays an important role in protecting teeth and gums.

It helps neutralize acids that attack tooth enamel and remove food debris that can cause oral infections.

In the absence of saliva, oral bacteria tend to multiply more quickly. 🦠 And this promotes the occurrence of dental problems such as the formation of tartar and dental plaque to be eliminated , cavities to be avoided as much as possible...

Xerostomia can impair your quality of life by causing chronic pain and discomfort . By increasing the acidity of the mouth , you will find yourself prone to many dental problems. 🦷

Starting with dental plaques, these disorders will lead to tartar, which is capable of damaging the entire oral environment without adequate intervention. This can create complexes, and your self-confidence or your social relationships will suffer.

To treat the feeling of dry mouth, different solutions are available to you. It is up to you to adopt the method best suited to your situation, in accordance with your dentist's instructions.

Certain lifestyle and dietary measures can help treat xerostomia and maintain good health. Start with the simplest but essential remedy, which is to hydrate yourself by drinking enough water . 🚰

However, avoid alcoholic, caffeinated or overly sugary drinks. Also stay away from spicy, acidic and sugary foods, as they can worsen dry mouth , in addition to being harmful to your dental health, especially if you have teeth sensitive to sugar .

Recommend foods rich in water, such as fruits and vegetables to hydrate the mouth and stimulate saliva production. 🍉

Exclude tobacco from your routine and maintain good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth the right way and daily.

Certain pharmaceuticals may help with salivation by activating muscarinic receptors located on salivary gland cells. Saliva is then released into the mouth and reduces dry mouth. 👄

However, these remedies can cause side effects ranging from nausea and vomiting to headaches and excess sweating. For this reason, you should seek the advice of a doctor before using this type of product.

A saliva substitute appears to be a product that will mimic the properties of natural saliva and relieve the symptoms of xerostomia. 😉 Serve as a saliva substitute:

• Gels and sprays;
• Pellets;
• Mouthwashes (it is nevertheless important to choose the right mouthwash );
• Sugar-free chewing gum.
• Gels and sprays are applied directly to the mouth to moisturize oral tissues and relieve symptoms of this condition.

Typically, they contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, carboxymethylcellulose and glycerin.

Generally, this problem occurs in two contexts namely: hyposialia and asialia.

The first term (hyposialia) reflects a weak secretion of saliva by the salivary glands and the second corresponds to its non-existence. While the underlying cause is often treatable, it can sometimes be incurable. 😓

Therefore, you should consider implementing measures to relieve xerostomia symptoms and prevent complications.

To prevent this problem and continue to salivate normally, you still need to be informed. So you will take the necessary measures to anticipate the diseases that are responsible.

To help patients prevent dry mouth, health professionals will have to organize awareness campaigns aimed at providing information on the responsible factors. They must educate on the importance of hydration and its effectiveness as a means of prevention. ☝️

During the campaign, it will be necessary to emphasize the risks of tobacco and alcohol on general and oral health.

Furthermore, doctors must remind us of the importance of adopting a healthy and balanced diet. They must encourage patients to maintain good oral hygiene by explaining to them the importance of brushing their teeth, using dental floss or interdental brushes and regular visits to the dentist.

Learn about the correct way to use interdental brushes beforehand.

Adaptation of drug treatments is an important strategy to prevent xerostomia . It is important that your doctor evaluates any products you use to determine if they may cause this type of problem. 👩‍⚕️

If one of your pharmaceutical products is identified as a potential cause of dry mouth , you should reduce the dose or replace it.

Good oral hygiene involves cleaning your mouth and teeth regularly to eliminate bacteria . This cleaning involves rigorous brushing of the teeth every day and at least twice in a day.

To do this, dentists usually recommend the benefits of electric toothbrushes , and especially those of sonic technology rather than rotary technology . They also advise using only soft bristle brushes as a priority. 🪥