Xerostomia is pronounced ZEER-oh-STOH-mee-ah. It is the medical term for the subjective complain of dry mouth due to a lack of saliva.
Xerostomia is more commonly known as dry mouth and is a symptom of many diseases and conditions. These conditions cause saliva production to decrease or stop. Saliva moistens your mouth and helps you to swallow and taste food. It also is a natural cavity fighter. For example, it washes away food and plaque from the teeth. It helps to neutralize acids in the mouth that harm tooth enamel.
If you have less saliva in your mouth, your teeth and gums are at increased risk of tooth decay. People with xerostomia also are more likely to get illnesses that affect the soft tissues of the mouth, such as yeast infections (thrush). In addition, your diet may be affected because you cannot taste food as you normally would.
Xerostomia may be caused by:
- A side effect of medications
- A complication of diseases and infections
- Dehydration
- Radiation Therapy
- Surgical removal of the salivary glands
- Smoking
Tips to help relieve symptoms of Xerostomia:
- Drink water often to keep your mouth moist, carry water with you. Sip it throughout the day. Keep water by your bed at night.
- Suck on sugar-free hard candies, ice chips or sugar-free ice pops.
- If you chew gum, try sugarless gum.
- Use an over-the-counter oral moisturizer or saliva substitute (Biotene).
- Use mouth-rinses that do not contain alcohol.
- Avoid salty foods, dry foods and foods and beverages with high sugar contents.
- Avoid smoking.
- To minimize irritation of dry tissues, use a moisturizer on your lips and a soft-bristle toothbrush on your teeth and gums.