Dentists warn about Dry Mouth: Know its meaning, symptoms and treatment

If you have been checking off on your hydration goals daily and yet feel constantly dry in the mouth, then you could likely have dry mouth. Also known as Xerostomia, this is an oral health condition that reduces saliva flow, leading to various symptoms including bad breath, rapid tooth decay and more.

How common is dry mouth?

According to dentosts, the condition is more common than you think. Dry mouth affects about one in five people, as per the experts. However, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, a dentist shared that the condition is underdiagnosed as people often mistake it with dehydration. And the longer it remains undiagnosed the more damage it creates for your oral health.

A 2023 report be the dental association stated that dry mouth affects about 10-26 % of men and 10-33%  of women. Globally, about 22 % of the population is estimated to have xerostomia.

How would you know if you have dry mouth? Check for these symptoms and follow the treatments mentioned below-

Dry mouth- What are the common symptoms?

The dentists state that xerostomia can cause the following symptoms-

Burning feeling in the mouth

Problems in chewing, swallowing, tastings or speaking

Altered taste

Dry or sore throat

Mouth sores

Bad breath

Cracked or peeling lips

If any of these symptoms persist for long, consulting a professional for diagnosis is advised.

Dry mouth- What are the treatments?

The 1^st step in the treatment is of course consulting with a dentist, who can examine the severity of the condition and assess the decay. Most treatments for dry mouth consist of over-the-counter products such as mouthwashes, gels, chewing gums and lozenges.

However, sometimes longer lifestyle changes such as avoiding certain food items and drinks are also required.

Understanding dry mouth or xerostomia

In simple words, dry mouth is a condition that makes the mouth feel dry due to anindequate amount of saliva.

The most frequent causes of the condition are the use of certain medications. As per 2018 study. Urologic medications, antidepressants and psycholeptics were associated with dry mouth in adults. Additionally, chemotherapy or head and neck cancer radiotherapy can also cause the condition as they directly cause toxicity to salivary glands and oral tissues. And tobacco and cannabis use can also accelerate it.

Dry mouth can be damaging to oral health because of the changes it causes to the amount and consistency of saliva in the mouth. Saliva is a natural antibiotic in the mouth and protects it from bacteria, acts as a lubricant, and cleans plaque and other particles from the teeth. It also remineralises tooth enamel as it is packed with calcium and phosphate, making the teeth resistant to decay.

With a lack of saliva in the mouth, all the symptoms of dry mouth can amp up the progression of the condition and lead to more damage.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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If you have been checking off on your hydration goals daily  ..

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7 Signs Your Body Needs More Folic Acid

The Institute of Medicine in the US states that adults should consume 400 micrograms of folic acid a day. It is also known as folate or vitamin B9, and is crucial for our health as it helps our body make and repair DNA as well as produce red blood cells. Should you be running low on folate, you may suffer from certain symptoms and develop anemia, a condition in which your internal organs can't get enough oxygen to work properly. Here are a list of common signs that indicate your body needs more folic acid.

1. Cognitive problems

Folic acid is especially important for your central nervous system. If your body lacks this vitamin, you may struggle with depression, have trouble concentrating and may feel forgetful and irritable. If it is not treated properly, an insufficient intake of folate may increase the risk of developing serious disorders including dementia or Alzheimer's disease. 

 

2. Body pains 

If anemia caused by folate deficiency is severe, your brain will get a lot less oxygen than it ideally should. As a result, the brain's arteries will start swelling and you'll likely get a headache. If your brain isn't the only organ lacking in oxygen, you may also feel pain in other parts of your iron-deficient body, particularly in the chest and legs.

3. Pale skin

There is a protein contained in red blood cells called hemoglobin which is responsible for transporting oxygen from your lungs to all of your body tissues. When your body is lacking in folate you don't have enough red blood cells (and hemoglobin) to provide your internal organs with the necessary amount of oxygen. This can cause a feeling of weakness in your muscles, fatigue and numbness in your hands and feet as, well as painful skin. 

 

4. Shortness of breath 

Do you notice yourself getting out of breath when doing things that you'd normally handle without any issues? This could indicate that your oxygen levels are low because your body is lacking in red blood cells. Along with this symptom, you might also experience an increased heart rate as well as a feeling of dizziness or faintness. 

 

5. Digestive problems

Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea after meals may be the first signs indicating that your body is low in folic acid. In severe cases, you may also suffer from anorexia which usually leads to significant weight loss. 

 

6. Mouth sores and tongue swelling  

When your folate levels are severely low, you may notice mouth sores and tongue swelling - two symptoms you shouldn't neglect. Your tongue may look swollen, red or shiny particularly around the tip and the edges. Due to a decrease in red blood cells, you may feel pain when swallowing or suffer from a sore tongue and stomatitis.  

 

7. Reduced sense of taste

According to some studies, in addition to mouth sores, deficiency in folic acid may result in having trouble tasting your food. This happens because your taste receptors, called papillae, cannot send messages to your brain via your nervous system, due to the existing tongue problems. 

 

Bonus: How to treat folate deficiency  

The easiest way to resolve folate deficiency is through your diet. Be sure to eat more dark green vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, and asparagus. As for other foods, it is better to consume citrus fruits, beans, mushrooms and whole grains on a regular basis.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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