Dry mouth, usually called xerostomia, is a common symptom most often caused by a decrease in the amount of saliva or a change in the quality of saliva. The exact number of people affected by dry mouth is unknown but it appears to be a common condition. Estimates range from 1% to 65%, depending on the types of patient populations studied.
Saliva is an essential body fluid that contributes to the protection and preservation of the oral cavity and plays a major role in maintaining oral health and comfort. It is produced by the three pairs of major salivary glands and hundreds of minor salivary glands. Its value is seldom appreciated until there is not enough. Saliva is necessary to moisten the mouth, to lubricate food for easier swallowing, to protect oral hard and soft tissues, to modulate oral microbial populations, to provide initial digestive enzymes, and to promote soft tissue repair and oral cleansing. Cleary, the lack of adequate saliva can lead to numerous clinical conditions affecting one’s oral and systemic health, comfort and quality of life. As a result, detecting the early signs of dry mouth is critical.
AllergyCorp Group ENT doctor are trained to detect dry mouth and can often identify its presence long before the patient becomes aware of its existence. One of the more common signs of a dry mouth is insufficient pooling of saliva under or around the tongue, a phenomenon easily noted by a specialty physician. Other clues to the presence of a dry mouth are cavities affecting the necks of the teeth near the gum line or chewing edges of the teeth and a red parched or fissured tongue (see Right). Common patient complaints or symptoms of dry mouth include difficulty swallowing food (especially dry food) without liquids, changes in the sense of taste, a burning sensation or pain in the mouth, and difficulty talking.
Dry mouth is typically caused by a multitude of factors including: medication side effects, various disease states, peripheral neuropathies, head & neck irradiation, dehydration, surgery, smoking, and mouth breathing.
The diagnosis of dry mouth is usually made after a physician carefully assesses your medical history and the clinical findings. The doctor will want to determine if your dry mouth is caused by a change in salivary function, its severity, and its cause. In some cases, they may need to order more specialized tests to assess your particular situation.
Over 1100 medications, either prescription or over the counter, have the potential to cause dry mouth. It has been reported that taking more than one medication with dry mouth as a side effect increases one’s probability of experiencing dry mouth and / or its severity. Some medications are more drying than others. AllergyCorp Group doctor may recommend you speak with your primary care physician to determine if adjusting or changing your medications could help reduce your dry mouth.
Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune condition characterized by dry mouth and dry eyes. Other potential symptoms include debilitating fatigue and joint pain. An estimated 1 – 4 million people are affected by the syndrome and women are affected nine times more frequently than. Sjögren’s syndrome can affect any age group but most patients are diagnosed in their early 50’s. It is not unusual for their dryness symptoms to have existed for years prior to the diagnosis. Oral dryness in these patients my progress up to point and then level off; or it may progressively worsen. For further information on this important disease, contact AllergyCorp Group Smell and Taste Clinic website: http://www.smellandtasteclinic.com.
Yes, up to 50% of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis also suffer from dry mouth. The term secondary Sjögren’s syndrome is used to refer to individuals with a connective tissue disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic
lupus erythematosus who also experience dry eyes and dry mouth.
Radiation therapy is often used to treat patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer. While the radiation is targeted to destroy only cancer cells, it invariably also destroys other healthy cells in the site being treated. If salivary glands are within that treatment site, they may be irreversibly damaged and no longer able to produce saliva. Patients suffering from radiation-induced dry mouth produce less saliva and their remaining saliva tends to feel thick and ropey. The degree of dryness is directly dependent on the extent of the salivary gland damage and varies from patient to patient. Once the salivary gland has been injured, it cannot repair itself, so the dryness will persist.
The Smell and Taste Clinic at AllergyCorp Group is a clinic dedicated for the diagnosis and management of dry mouth (xerostomia). It is also the one place where hundreds of patient have seen relief of dry mouth. We are a unique clinic in the country to offer comprehensive evaluation and treatment in patients with dry mouth. Few physicians in the ENT specialty or other specialties are trained to diagnose and treat this devastating disorder, and even fewer understand the seriousness and impact that this disorder may have on patients life. Make an appointment with AllergyCorp Group specialist today at 910-399-2882 for Wilmington or 910-207-6520 for Whiteville clinic.