How to deal with a dry mouth

Certain medication can lead to a dry mouth.

What you need to know:

Dear Dentist, I am HIV positive and i always experience a dry mouth, I have tried using herbal medicine but it has not helped, what could be the cause and how can I get rid of it?

Dear Dentist, I am HIV positive and i always experience a dry mouth, I have tried using herbal medicine but it has not helped, what could be the cause and how can I get rid of it? Faith - Masaka

Dear Faith, dry mouth is a condition where there is not enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. This condition happens in various situations including when we are nervous, upset or under stress. It can be uncomfortable and also lead to serious health problems. Some of the health concerns include;
Difficulties in tasting, chewing, swallowing, and speaking
Developing dental decay and other infections in the mouth
Can be a sign of certain diseases and conditions

Causes of a dry mouth
Some of the causes of a dry mouth include;
Side effects of medicines: A number of medicines can cause the salivary glands to make less saliva. Medicines for high blood pressure and depression often cause dry mouth.

Diseases: some diseases affect the salivary glands. Sjogren’s Syndrome, HIV/Aids, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease can all cause dry mouth.
Radiation therapy: The salivary glands can be damaged if they are exposed to radiation during cancer treatment.
Chemotherapy: Drugs used to treat cancer can make saliva thicker, causing the mouth to feel dry.
Nerve injury to the head or neck can damage the nerves that tell salivary glands to make saliva, thus leading to a dry mouth.

What can you do to prevent this problem?
Always drink a lot of water or sugarless drinks in substitution for drinks with caffeine, such as coffee and some sodas. Caffeine can dry out the mouth. Sugarless drink during meals will make chewing and swallowing easier. It may also improve the taste of food
Chew sugarless gum to stimulate or increase on your saliva flow.

Don’t use tobacco or alcohol. They dry out the mouth.
Be aware that spicy or salty foods may cause pain in a dry mouth
If your dry mouth is caused by medicine, your physician might change your medicine or adjust the dosage
If your salivary glands are not working right but can still produce some saliva, your physician or dentist might give you a medicine that helps the glands work better

The writer is a dentist
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