Europe medical research

Xerostomia is the subjective feeling of dryness throughout the mouth due to reduced or absent saliva flow. It is a medical term used for dry mouth due to lack of saliva and is also informally known as pasties, cottonmouth, drooth, doughmouth or des (from desert). Experts say that dry mouth is usually caused by the inadequate function of the salivary glands. This can be reversible; due to anxiety, acute infection, dehydration or the effects of some drugs. However, there are also some permanent causes of dry mouth such as congenital abnormalities, Sjögren’s syndrome, HIV/AIDS and the result of irradiation.

Xerostomia is a very common problem. There were studies conducted on outpatients and from the general population that show xerostomia affects about one from four people. It is usually a side effect of medication, which may improve with a new prescription or an adjustment of dosage. It may be a symptom of a serious systemic disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, Sjogren’s syndrome and hypothyroidism.

To determine if a person has dry mouth, the doctor or dentist likely will examine one’s mouth and review one’s medical history. Blood tests and imaging scans of your salivary glands are sometimes needed to identify the cause. If found that medication may be the cause, the doctor may adjust the dosage or switch to another medication that doesn’t cause a dry mouth. He may also consider prescribing pilocarpine (Salagen) or cevimeline (Evoxac) to stimulate saliva production.

When the cause of the problem either can’t be determined or can’t be resolved, one must use both saliva substitutes and saliva stimulants. One can get properly balanced artificial saliva. It should be of neutral pH and contain electrolytes, including fluoride, to correspond to the composition of saliva. Luborant is licensed drug which can be used for any condition giving rise to a dry mouth. Some patients may also require referral to a dietitian.

Sucking on sugar-free hard candy or chewing sugar-free gum may be able to improve the flow of saliva. Sugarless sweets containing citric and malic acid can chemically induce saliva production. However, one must be careful so that the acidic content does not result from the dissolution of tooth enamel.  Acidic foods or hard candies can make saliva acidic, increasing the possibility of tooth decay. It’s also a good idea to avoid sugary foods and candies because these can increase the risk of tooth decay as well.