Diaphoresis is the medical term used to describe excessive, abnormal sweating in relation to your environment and activity level. Treatment options for xerostomia also include artificial saliva spray. Pdf diagnosis and treatment of xerostomia dry mouth. Oral candidiasis is one of the most common oral infections seen in association with xerostomia. Over 400 medications are associated with xerostomia, some of these are listed in table 1.
There are multiple causes with various mechanisms of xerostomia such as systemic diseases, anticholinergic effects of many drugs, psychological conditions, alcohol, head and neck radiation therapy, and physiological changes, but xerostomiarelated systemic diseases have not been addressed as much as they worth it. Xerostomia causes one of the main causes is medicines, especially high blood pressure medication, antidiarrheals, decongestants, depression and anxiety medication, muscle relaxants, etc. Dry mouth, usually called xerostomia zeerohstomia, is a common symptom most often caused by a decrease in the amount of saliva or a change in the quality of saliva. Many of us have experienced moments in our lives when our mouths have felt uncomfortably dry, like during a stressful situation. Xerostomia is a common complaint of nearly half of the elderly population and about onefifth of younger adults. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy also suffer from dry mouth, as radiation treatments may affect their salivary glands. The diagnosis of xerostomia is usually based on a quantitative assessment of unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva. The treatment depends on controlling the underlying causes. The exact number of people affected by dry mouth is unknown but it appears to be a common condition.
Xerostomia generates an increase of pathogenic bacteria in a pathogenic biofilm, which decreases the oral ph. They are also more prone to mouth infections, bad breath and other mouth problems resulting due to lack of saliva. It causes several signs and symptoms, and compromise oral functions and healthrelated qualityoflife. Its normal to occasionally have a dry mouth if youre dehydrated or feeling nervous, but a persistently dry mouth can be a sign of an underlying problem. Dry mouth xerostomia causes and treatment does your mouth feel dry and sticky when you first wake up in the morning. Indeed current management of xerostomia in palliative care units is based largely on anecdotal evidence.
The main causes are medical treatment, polymedication and diseases. Dont stop taking your medication, but mention dry mouth to your physician or dentist. Having a dry mouth a dry mouth or xerostomia is due to decreased saliva flow or changes in the amount of saliva produced. Aug 23, 2018 xerostomia is the feeling of having a persistent and unusually dry mouth. Xerostomia is the feeling of having a persistent and unusually dry mouth. Jan 02, 2018 the condition is also informally known as xerostomia, pasties, cottonmouth, drooth, doughmouth, or des. However, it is an area which has received little attention. Dec 23, 2015 xerostomia is common in the elderly, particularly in females with poor general health. A person having dry mouth usually faces difficulty in speaking and eating food. It causes several signs and symptoms, and compromise oral functions and healthrelated quality of life.
Aside from physiologic causes of xerostomia, iatrogenic effects of medications are the most common cause. A medication which is known to cause xerostomia may be termed xerogenic. Xerostomia dental disorders merck manuals professional. Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a condition which slows or prevents saliva production. Often, xerostomia is accompanied by a decrease in salivary flow or hyposalivation, and this condition leads to oral health problems such as dental caries, candidiasis, and mucosal complications.
Xerostomia or dry mouthcausessymptomstreatmenthome. Dry mouth can be a symptom or sideeffect of other conditions and. Avoiddiscontinue any medications that may cause or exacerbate xerostomia in collaboration with physiciannurse practitioner and pharmacist amifostine a cytoprotectant agent that reduces the incidenceseverity of acutechronic xerostomia in patients receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. You should see your dentist or gp if you have an unusually dry mouth known as xerostomia so they can try to determine the cause. The most common causes of xerostomia, however, are conditions or circumstances that result in alterations in salivary gland function, either quantitative or qualitative. Dry mouth xerostomia can be caused by the medicine you take, both prescription and overthecounter. In particular, it may affect speech, chewing, swallowing, denturewearing, and general wellbeing. Dry mouth can happen to anyone occasionallyfor example, when nervous or stressed. There are a variety of salivary and nonsalivary causes of xerostomia, the most frequent being medication side effects and systemic disorders. A systematic approach should be employed to determine the etiology of this condition, with. Other causes include high doses of radiation and autoimmune diseases come is sjogrens syndrome. Xerostomia or dry mouthcausessymptomstreatmenthome remedies.
Some common causes include nervousness, stress, certain medications, aging, cancer therapy radiationchemotherapy, and autoimmune disorders like sjorgrens syndrome, smoking and methamphetamine use. Based on the etiology, the xerostomia can be classified as true xerostomia xerostomia vera, primaria, caused by the malfunction of the salivary glands and pseudo xerostomia or symptomatic xerostomia xerostomia spuria, symptomatica. Diagnosis and management of xerostomia and hyposalivation grades table 1. It can be mild or severe and often develops gradually.
This condition can result in discomfort, interfere with speech and swallowing, make wearing dentures difficult, cause halitosis, and impair oral hygiene by causing a decrease in oral ph and an increase in bacterial growth. Xerostomia is caused by reduced or insufficient saliva production by the salivary glands found in. The american dental association physicians desk reference guide to dental therapeutics cr information assembled from a variety of data to reflect the prevalence of xerostomia among top prescription medications. The condition is also informally known as xerostomia, pasties, cottonmouth, drooth, doughmouth, or des. Jul 29, 2009 xerostomia dry mouth is a common complaint with widespread implications such as impaired quality of life, oral pain, and numerous oral complications. The persistent feeling of a dry mouth is called xerostomia, otherwise known as dry mouth. Common prescriptions associated with xerostomia 348. As we already know, medications are one of the main causes. This article will look at the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and. Jun 21, 2018 xerostomia or dry mouth is a medical condition that results from improper functioning of the salivary glands. In this context, the neuroelectrostimulation of the.
Hyposalivation was found in 10 of the 35 patients with xerostomia 28. If you have severe dry mouth, your doctor or dentist may. Extreme dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction can produce significant anxiety, permanent mouth and throat disorders, and can impair a persons quality of life. Risk factors, hyposalivation and impact of xerostomia on. The consequences of xerostomia for the oral health are serious. Common causes are summarized the in the table below table 1. Mouthwashes designed for dry mouth, especially ones with xylitol, can be effective, such as biotene dry mouth oral rinse or act dry mouth mouthwash, which also offer protection against tooth decay. Causes of longstanding xerostomia include diseases of the salivary glands ie, sjo gren syndrome, hepatitis c, and diabetes and iatrogenic causes drugs, local radiation, chemotherapy. Examples of nonpharmacologic causes of xerostomia include history of smoking, alcohol use, caffeine, and breathing through the mouth. However, when dry mouth persists, it can make chewing, swallowing, and even talking difficult.
But, if your mouth frequently feels dry, you might have dry mouth. Dry mouth, also called xerostomia zeerohstohmeeah, is the condition of not having enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. Xerostomia dry mouth is a common complaint with widespread implications such as impaired quality of life, oral pain, and numerous oral complications. Xerostomia is defined as the subjective complaint of dry mouth. Dry mouth causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment national. Although drug induced xerostomia is commonly reversible, the conditions for which these medications are prescribed are. Multiple reasons are proposed to describe the etiology of xerostomia such as local factors, psychogenic factors, and systemic. Dry mouth xerostomia causes and treatment dental care. Xerostomia, which can differ in degree of severity from one individual to another, may present itself with one or more of the following symptoms.
Xerostomia can make it difficult to speak, eat, and digest food and can lead to malnutrition. Some causes of xerostomia xerostomia is dry mouth caused by reduced or absent flow of saliva. Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, occurs when salivary glands dont make sufficient saliva to prevent the drying of the mouth. Acute xerostomia from radiation is due to an inflammatory reaction, while late xerostomia, which can occur up to one year after radiation therapy, results from fibrosis of the salivary gland and is usually permanent. Common prescriptions associated with xerostomia drugs are listed in alphabetical order by generic name. This condition can result in discomfort, interfere with speech and swallowing, make wearing dentures difficult, cause halitosis, and impair oral hygiene by causing a decrease in oral ph. Xerostomia causes a great deal of morbidity in patients with advanced cancer.
These features of xerostomia can lead to the inability of the patient to take necessary medications, and can influence intake of proper nutrients, leading to malnutrition and a decline in overall health. Dry mouth most commonly occurs as a side effect of medications that cause decreased saliva production, including high blood pressure medications, antihistamines, antidepressants such as wellbutrin, lexapro and zoloft, diuretics, nonsteroidal antiinflammatories, steroids such as prednisone and prednisolone, amphetamines such as adderall, and many others. It is also seen in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. A dry mouth can occur when the salivary glands in your.
If dry mouth is associated with correctable causes and correction of underlying causes doesnt improve the condition, several additional steps are critical. Dry mouth is a condition that results from a decreased volume of saliva in the mouth. Also avoid spicy or salty food because they can cause irritation. Taking these steps to protect your teeth may also help your dry mouth condition.
Dry mouth can also be a sign of diseases and other conditions like diabetes so make sure you tell your medical or dental professional about dry mouth if. Xerostomia is caused by reduced or insufficient saliva production by the salivary glands found in and around the mouth and. If you have a dry mouth, you may experience the following symptoms. Know the causes, symptoms, treatment, and home remedies of xerostomia or dry mouth. Treatment of dry mouth and dry mouth causes colgate. Nov 30, 2016 diaphoresis is the medical term used to describe excessive, abnormal sweating in relation to your environment and activity level. Thus, the doctor may change or alter the medications prescribed to reduce the symptoms. Saliva is important to maintain the health of your teeth and mouth.
Diagnosis and management of xerostomia and hyposalivation. Xerostomia dry mouth, oral dryness, and mouth dryness is the dryness of oral cavity and can be caused by lower salivary flow or the complete lack of saliva. Saliva is important for hydration, lubrication and cleansing in the oral cavity. Dry mouth can occur when the glands in the mouth that make saliva are not working properly. This article will look at the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of dry mouth. Common causes of xerostomia xerostomia is a common complaint associated with several conditions, which include side effects of wide variety of medications3,4, therapeutic radiation to head and neck, systemic diseases and diseases involving the salivary glands. Dry mouth can also be caused by head and neck radiation, depression, anxiety and some autoimmune diseases. Dry mouth national institute of dental and craniofacial.
Xerostomia or dry mouth sensation is considered a complex condition that affects several stomatological functions that drives to the detriment of the quality of life of individuals who suffer from it. Xerostomia or dry mouth is a medical condition that results from improper functioning of the salivary glands. The use of systemic medications is one of the most frequently reported causes of xerostomia. Managing xerostomia and salivary gland hypofunction. There are multiple causes of xerostomia from various mechanisms. It tends to affect your entire body rather than a part of your body.
A update of the etiology and management of xerostomia. Some common problems associated with xerostomia include a constant sore throat, burning sensation, difficulty speaking and swallowing, hoarseness andor dry nasal passages. This fact sheet explains what causes a dry mouth and what you should do about it. Treatment modalities of hyposalivation can range from the use saliva substitutes, restriction and prevention strategies as well as stimulation of secretory capacity available.