The lack of saliva is a common issue that may only seem to cause discomfort, but dry mouth can also have an impact on how enjoyable eating is and how well your teeth are taken care of.

Xerostomia is the medical name for dry mouth. Because saliva prevents tooth decay by reducing the growth of bacteria and eliminating food and plaque, dry mouth can be problematic.

Food tastes better and is easier to swallow when saliva is present.

Salivary enzymes also facilitate digestion.

Dry mouth is frequently a side effect of some drugs, though therapy varies depending on the cause. By altering the medication or tweaking the doses, the condition can be improved.

A person may have the following symptoms and indicators if not enough saliva is produced: Increased incidence of plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease. Dry mouth, saliva that seems viscous and sticky, fissures in the corners of the mouth, dry lips, poor breath, trouble speaking and swallowing, dry, sore throat, changed perception of taste.

Stress and mental illness.

Stress causes us to have a “dry mouth” sensation. Mental instability, anxiety, and depression can result from prolonged stress. These are accompanied by the sensation of having a dry mouth.
Medication.

Excessive use of blood pressure or diuretic medications is one of the most frequent causes of dry mouth. Diuretics flush out extra sodium from the body, but sodium must be flushed out with water.

Blood pressure lowers when not enough water is consumed. Therefore, it is essential to speak with a doctor before deciding to use any blood pressure-regulating medicine.

Malnutrition.

Another probable cause of dry mouth is malnutrition. The body’s functions are compromised when it doesn’t obtain enough food and water. Salivary gland activity is also decreased. In this approach, malnutrition will affect the entire body.

Sugar (Diabetes).

The first thing to check if a patient complains of dry mouth is the body’s sugar level. Additionally, if he experiences an exceptional requirement for food and water intake while still losing weight, it is obvious that he has diabetes.

Dehydration.

When the body is exposed to extreme temperatures, dehydration can also happen, especially if the person has recently experienced vomiting or diarrhea. When we are dehydrated, it is typical to feel like we have a dry mouth. Eating meals high in potassium is the quickest way to cure dry mouth.

Tumor treatment.

The oesophageal, gastric, and intestinal mucous membranes are all impacted by radiation therapy for malignant tumors. This explains why chemotherapy causes dry mouth in cancer patients.

Other health problems.

Other medical problems, such as autoimmune Sjogren’s disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, HIV/AIDS, anxiety disorders, and depression, as well as associated therapies, can result in dry mouth.

Even if the salivary glands are usually functioning, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease can produce a dry mouth. This issue might be exacerbated by snoring and mouth breathing.