many people never realize how important saliva is in their mouths. It is probably thought to be insignificant and that everything would go on smoothly without it. Such thoughts are misguided because saliva does a multitude of important tasks. Its absence is a disease on its own. In fact, dry mouth or xerostomia is the disease that is caused by a lack of or a reduction in production of saliva inside the mouth. When one needs to treat dry mouth Newfoundlands should be among the places to give priority.
Like mentioned above, saliva helps in many functions in mouths. First, its lubricating property offers comfort and protects tissues in mouths. Effects of friction such as ulcers and sores are prevented from developing by the lubricating effect of saliva. It also prevents infection by bacteria and neutralizes acids. Lastly, the process of tasting is dependent on saliva a lot. It would be difficult to taste food without saliva.
Advanced levels of xerostomia causes difficulty in speaking and the subject can experience malnutrition. Permanent damage to the throat and mouth usually result if the condition is extreme. At such points, quality of life is highly impaired. The damage caused is easily visible when one speaks or opens their oral cavity.
Women tend to be affected by xerostomia more than men in the whole world. This has been attributed to the fact that they face more risk factors too. Because the elderly people take more medications, they also suffer from the disease more than other people in the population. Many diseases cause xerostomia as a side effect.
Xerostomia is caused by several factors that act together or in isolation. Drugs are one of the major causes. Drugs that cause the condition include antidepressants, antihistamines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, and diuretics. Other major causes include hormonal imbalance, sleep apnea, breathing through the mouth, diabetes, salivary gland diseases, and autoimmune disorders among others. Similarly, there are also several risk factors including eating disorders. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are major causes because of dehydration and hormonal changes.
The manifestation of xerostomia happens through many different signs. Signs are more noticeable at night and are stronger in mouth-breathers. Among the major signs include difficulty in tasting food, eating, speaking, and swallowing. Additional signs include headaches, pale gums, bad breath, dizziness, sores in the mouths, dry eyes and throat, cracked lips, and persistent coughs among several others.
Preventing xerostomia is not possible. The only thing that doctors can do is to minimize the resultant side effects. Side effects can be severe in certain cases. For that reason, the disease needs to be detected when it is still in its early stages so that adverse side effects are not felt.
Treatment happens in stages depending on the stage of the disease. Unblocking salivary glands through surgery may be the only option in advanced stages. Saliva stimulation and substitution are the first-line treatments. These two treatment options are usually sufficient in most cases, eliminating the need for surgery.
Like mentioned above, saliva helps in many functions in mouths. First, its lubricating property offers comfort and protects tissues in mouths. Effects of friction such as ulcers and sores are prevented from developing by the lubricating effect of saliva. It also prevents infection by bacteria and neutralizes acids. Lastly, the process of tasting is dependent on saliva a lot. It would be difficult to taste food without saliva.
Advanced levels of xerostomia causes difficulty in speaking and the subject can experience malnutrition. Permanent damage to the throat and mouth usually result if the condition is extreme. At such points, quality of life is highly impaired. The damage caused is easily visible when one speaks or opens their oral cavity.
Women tend to be affected by xerostomia more than men in the whole world. This has been attributed to the fact that they face more risk factors too. Because the elderly people take more medications, they also suffer from the disease more than other people in the population. Many diseases cause xerostomia as a side effect.
Xerostomia is caused by several factors that act together or in isolation. Drugs are one of the major causes. Drugs that cause the condition include antidepressants, antihistamines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, and diuretics. Other major causes include hormonal imbalance, sleep apnea, breathing through the mouth, diabetes, salivary gland diseases, and autoimmune disorders among others. Similarly, there are also several risk factors including eating disorders. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are major causes because of dehydration and hormonal changes.
The manifestation of xerostomia happens through many different signs. Signs are more noticeable at night and are stronger in mouth-breathers. Among the major signs include difficulty in tasting food, eating, speaking, and swallowing. Additional signs include headaches, pale gums, bad breath, dizziness, sores in the mouths, dry eyes and throat, cracked lips, and persistent coughs among several others.
Preventing xerostomia is not possible. The only thing that doctors can do is to minimize the resultant side effects. Side effects can be severe in certain cases. For that reason, the disease needs to be detected when it is still in its early stages so that adverse side effects are not felt.
Treatment happens in stages depending on the stage of the disease. Unblocking salivary glands through surgery may be the only option in advanced stages. Saliva stimulation and substitution are the first-line treatments. These two treatment options are usually sufficient in most cases, eliminating the need for surgery.
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