What is Dry Mouth?
Dry Mouth (or Xerostomia) is the condition of decreased saliva production. Research suggests that over 25 million adults experience symptoms of dry mouth and is considerably more prevalent then commonly recognized.
Most of us may temporarily experience dry mouth without any ill effects. However, any persistent alteration in salivary gland function may create a decrease in the quantity or quality of saliva.
The importance of saliva is often overlooked. Only when it is lacking do we recognize the fundamental role our saliva plays in maintaining our quality of life.
Saliva helps:
- Protect teeth from decay by neutralizing damaging acids.
- Prevent infections by shielding bacterial growth on tissue.
- Digest food and aids in chewing and swallowing.
- Keep mouth moist for normal speaking ability
What are the symptoms of Dry Mouth?
Symptoms of dry mouth include:
- Trouble chewing and swallowing food
- Unquenchable thirst and difficulty speaking
- Cracked lips and a dry tough tongue
- Altered sense of taste and texture of food
What are the causes of Dry Mouth?
Medications
- Over 400 commonly used medications can cause dry mouth.
- Prominent among these drugs are those prescribed for allergies, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression and weight loss.
Procedures
- Radiation Therapy
- Bone Marrow Transplant
- Chemotherapy
- Removal of Saliva Glands
Diseases
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Sjorgren’s Syndrome (4MM)
- Mouth or Throat Cancer
What are the consequences of untreated Dry Mouth?
Apart from the discomfort and inconvenience of a lack of saliva, regular or constant dry mouth will lead to gradual deterioration in the condition of your teeth and gums, increased plaque, dry or cracked lips an inability to taste your food properly, persistent bad breath and, in some cases, a burning feeling in your mouth. Also, at night the discomfort of a dry mouth may cause you to waken frequently.
Denture Wearers: you may also notice that your dentures become less comfortable and difficult to keep in place due to a lack of mouth moisture.
While the severity of symptoms may vary from person to person, it is clear that the combination of these added to the difficulty in performing all the normal day-to-day functions of the mouth can severely affect your enjoyment of life.
How does Orazyme relieve symptoms of Dry Mouth?
Orazyme provides long-lasting relief from Dry Mouth by mimicking the role of saliva in 3 distinct ways:
1. The soothing base provides moisture on contact by forming a protective film around the inside of the mouth.
2. The 7 bio-active enzymes selectively inhibit the ‘bad’ bacteria while helping maintain healthy microflora and overall oral balance.
3. The unique film-forming moisturizers coat dry mouth tissue which helps shield it from infection causing germs and scratches.
What are some recommendations to relieve Dry Mouth along with Orazyme?
- Sipping water- Do so regularly throughout the day. Sucking on ice chips is another good option; do not sip on any acidic products, including diet and regular sodas.
- Chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free hard candy- look for sugarless products that contain Xylitol. Some products feature this re-mineralizing agent, which adds calcium and phosphate to teeth.
- Avoid Lemon flavored candy- Lemon candy makes saliva acidic, which increasees the risk of tooth decay.
- Breathe through your nose- It’s less drying than open-mouth breathing.
- Adding moisture in the air- Use a humidifier while you sleep.
What are some additional solutions?
If something other than a change in medications or treating an underlying health condition is called for to address ongoing dry mouth, your doctor may also consider prescribing a drug-cevimeline (Evoxac) or pilocarpine (Salagen) – to stimulate saliva production.
Fluoride treatments may be recommended by your dentist to help protect and strengthen tooth enamel. One approach is fluoride application by your dentist. This may be done two to four times a year. There are also nonprescription fluoride rinses available in drugstores, one such product is Binaca Fluoride Mouthwash.
Another option to thwart the potential effects of dry mouth is to chew sugar-free gum sweetened by a naturally occurring sugar substitute called xylitol. Studies have shown that frequent use of gum with high levels of xylitol can prevent cavities (dental caries) and even harden the tooth surface where a cavity has begun. Gum that's sweetened solely by xylitol appears to offer the best protection from dental caries.
Casein phosphopeptides-amorphous calcium phosphate, or CCP-ACP – can help remineralize dental enamel. CCP-ACP penetrates and binds to tooth enamel.
Another product that may help remineralize dental enamel is sugarless chewing gum containing a form of calcium phosphate that penetrates and binds to tooth enamel.
It's also helpful to limit tooth enamel contacts with acids. Be aware of the many foods and beverages that can create an acidic setting in your mouth, such as citrus fruits, tart candies, diet and regular sodas, energy or sports drinks, fruit juices, and wine. Another concern for some may be the unwanted stomach acid that flows into the mouth due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acid reflux and heartburn. Left untreated, reflux can cause significant enamel loss. Talk with your doctor if you suspect a reflux problem.