Saliva is one component in the mouth that is often taken for granted. It is even easier to think that saliva serves no purpose and one is better off without it. That line of thinking is hugely mistaken and grossly wrong. Saliva does many functions in the oral cavity that its absence is a disease in itself. Lack of or decreased synthesis of saliva in the mouth results in a disease called dry mouth or xerostomia. To get treatment for dry mouth Newfoundlands is the best place to go.
Like mentioned above, saliva helps in many functions in mouths. First, its lubricating property offers comfort and protects tissues in mouths. Effects of friction such as ulcers and sores are prevented from developing by the lubricating effect of saliva. It also prevents infection by bacteria and neutralizes acids. Lastly, the process of tasting is dependent on saliva a lot. It would be difficult to taste food without saliva.
Advanced levels of xerostomia causes difficulty in speaking and the subject can experience malnutrition. Permanent damage to the throat and mouth usually result if the condition is extreme. At such points, quality of life is highly impaired. The damage caused is easily visible when one speaks or opens their oral cavity.
In the world over, xerostomia is more prevalent among women than it is among men. This is so because causes or risk factors for the condition are also more prevalent in women. Old people are also at higher risk of developing the disease because they take a lot of prescription and nonprescription medications more frequently. Many kinds of medications produce xerostomia as a side effect.
The causes of xerostomia are many and they may act singly or in combination. One of the major causes is drugs. Drugs produce the condition as a side effect. Drugs with such side effects include antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, diuretics, and antihistamines. Additional causes are hormonal imbalance, breathing through the mouth, sleep apnea, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and salivary gland diseases. On the other hand, there are also risk factors including eating disorders. Hormonal changes and dehydration caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding are also major causes.
The signs that are indicative of xerostomia are many and diverse. They are more evident in mouth-breathers, especially at night. Difficulty in swallowing, speaking, eating, and tasting food is the major signs. In addition to those, patients also experience headaches, dizziness, pale gums, sores inside the mouths, dry throat and eyes, cracked lips, persistent coughs, and bad breath among several others.
Preventing xerostomia is not possible. The only thing that doctors can do is to minimize the resultant side effects. Side effects can be severe in certain cases. For that reason, the disease needs to be detected when it is still in its early stages so that adverse side effects are not felt.
Treatment happens in stages depending on the stage of the disease. Unblocking salivary glands through surgery may be the only option in advanced stages. Saliva stimulation and substitution are the first-line treatments. These two treatment options are usually sufficient in most cases, eliminating the need for surgery.
Like mentioned above, saliva helps in many functions in mouths. First, its lubricating property offers comfort and protects tissues in mouths. Effects of friction such as ulcers and sores are prevented from developing by the lubricating effect of saliva. It also prevents infection by bacteria and neutralizes acids. Lastly, the process of tasting is dependent on saliva a lot. It would be difficult to taste food without saliva.
Advanced levels of xerostomia causes difficulty in speaking and the subject can experience malnutrition. Permanent damage to the throat and mouth usually result if the condition is extreme. At such points, quality of life is highly impaired. The damage caused is easily visible when one speaks or opens their oral cavity.
In the world over, xerostomia is more prevalent among women than it is among men. This is so because causes or risk factors for the condition are also more prevalent in women. Old people are also at higher risk of developing the disease because they take a lot of prescription and nonprescription medications more frequently. Many kinds of medications produce xerostomia as a side effect.
The causes of xerostomia are many and they may act singly or in combination. One of the major causes is drugs. Drugs produce the condition as a side effect. Drugs with such side effects include antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, diuretics, and antihistamines. Additional causes are hormonal imbalance, breathing through the mouth, sleep apnea, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and salivary gland diseases. On the other hand, there are also risk factors including eating disorders. Hormonal changes and dehydration caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding are also major causes.
The signs that are indicative of xerostomia are many and diverse. They are more evident in mouth-breathers, especially at night. Difficulty in swallowing, speaking, eating, and tasting food is the major signs. In addition to those, patients also experience headaches, dizziness, pale gums, sores inside the mouths, dry throat and eyes, cracked lips, persistent coughs, and bad breath among several others.
Preventing xerostomia is not possible. The only thing that doctors can do is to minimize the resultant side effects. Side effects can be severe in certain cases. For that reason, the disease needs to be detected when it is still in its early stages so that adverse side effects are not felt.
Treatment happens in stages depending on the stage of the disease. Unblocking salivary glands through surgery may be the only option in advanced stages. Saliva stimulation and substitution are the first-line treatments. These two treatment options are usually sufficient in most cases, eliminating the need for surgery.
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