Dry Mouth

This condition involves abnormal dryness inside the mouth. Dry mouth can be caused by many diseases, including rheumatic diseases, diabetes, kidney failure and AIDS, and can also occur as a side effect of cancer treatment.

Dry mouth can develop due to many factors:

• Radiotherapy to the head and neck
• All surgical procedures in the head and neck, including removal of salivary glands
• Certain chemotherapy agents
• Oral infections
• Certain medications and particular health conditions such as diabetes
• What Should We Do to Reduce Dry Mouth?

Pay attention to oral hygiene:

• Brush your teeth before bed and after every meal.
• Use a nylon toothbrush with short, soft bristles. If the bristles are not soft enough, immerse the brush in hot water and leave it for a while.
• Clean your teeth using dental floss.
• You can gargle with baking soda.
• Rinse your mouth frequently with salt water (half a spoon of salt in 250 ml water)
• Rinse your mouth with salt water every two hours or as needed. Salt water keeps the mouth moist and thins thick saliva.
• Avoid commercial mouthwashes containing alcohol, cleansing agents or sweeteners. These can increase dryness and cause tooth decay.
• Use fluoride gel: gels containing fluoride minimize tooth enamel problems and decay, strengthening teeth.
• If you wear dentures: keep them clean, ensure they fit your mouth properly and avoid wearing them while sleeping.

How Can We Cope with Dry Mouth?

• Rinse your mouth and frequently sip water or fruit juice.
• Maintain oral hygiene before bed and after each meal.
• Change how you prepare meals to make them more enjoyable.
• Choose soft, moist foods. Use broth and sauces in meals.
• Avoid hard, dry foods such as bread or peanut butter.
• Drink more fluids during meals.
• Avoid alcohol and carbonated drinks.
• Chew sugar-free gum.
• Lubricate your tooth cavities using a saliva substitute or a teaspoon of olive oil.
• Use lip moisturizer to relieve cracked and dry lips.
• Ask your doctor whether certain medications used to increase saliva production, such as pilocarpine, are suitable for you.

Never follow hearsay advice on your own without your doctor's knowledge. Your doctor will perform the necessary tests and make any additions and/or changes considered necessary.