Why does my mouth feel dry after eating? Dry mouth: why does it occur and how to treat it? How to get rid of dry mouth

The salivary glands are designed to produce a liquid secretion - saliva. They perform specific functions in the human body, being responsible for the “production” of hormone-like substances, the reproduction of protein and mucous components, and the release of blood plasma components from capillaries into saliva. Why does dry mouth, in addition to discomfort, cause close attention from doctors and patients?

Disruption of the salivary glands causes drying out of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, leading to a decrease in local and general immunity.

Causes of dry mouth

Signs of dry mouth are manifested by the following symptoms:

• constant feeling of thirst;
• bitter taste in the mouth;
• unpleasant odor;
• burning on the tip of the tongue;
• formation of ulcers on the cheeks and tongue;
• cracks on the lips.

If it is easy to replenish the water balance with increased fluid loss, then if you miss the initial moment of the development of the disease, the only symptom of which is dryness in the nasopharynx or a white coating on the tongue, the treatment process will be more complex, lengthy and costly. Why does your mouth get dry and in what cases is it necessary to see a doctor immediately?

• Insufficient intake of fluid into the body or increased excretion.
  • When consuming less than 1.5-2 liters of liquid, the body “thanks” for this by dryness of the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes.
  • Physical training helps eliminate toxins and... fluids.
  • Staying in a hot, dry climate or a sudden change in climate.
• Alcohol and drug intoxication. Most adults have indulged in heavy libations at least once in their lives. In the morning, many were guaranteed a so-called dry mouth, a feeling of bitterness in the throat and tongue. Drugs suppress the sensitivity of salivary gland receptors. The same effect is observed when taking illegal diet pills containing amphetamine derivatives.

• Smoking. Nicotine slows down the activity of the glands in the mouth, so the feeling of burning, itching, dryness of the mouth and larynx is not new to smokers.
• Diet unbalanced in salt. Salty, fatty foods, foods with a spicy taste - onions, garlic, hot peppers - require a significant amount of saliva during digestion. Therefore, after eating, the brain signals a lack of salivary fluid, and we feel thirsty.
• Nocturnal breathing disorder - apnea, sleeping with your mouth open. Dryness of the oral cavity and nasopharynx is typical after sleeping with the mouth open. In the morning, your mouth feels dry, and your lips become covered with a network of cracks or crusts.
• Age-related changes. After 55-60 years, people more often complain of symptoms of dry mucous membranes. Restructuring of the body, hormonal imbalances, and a bunch of accumulated diseases lead to a decrease in the activity of the salivary glands in the mouth.
• Food or chemical poisoning. Intoxication severely dehydrates the body, reducing saliva secretion. Intensive drinking of special hydration fluids and boiled water (in small portions) will help replenish your water balance.

• Various diseases. A clinical analysis of urine and blood, as well as a timely visit to a doctor, will help to find out what disease causes dryness and discomfort in the mouth:
  • Diabetes mellitus manifests itself through an acute lack of fluid, weakness and dizziness. A patient with high sugar constantly wants to drink. The intake of liquid does not relieve the symptoms of dry mucous membranes well, and the smell of acetone appears from the mouth. Urgent hospitalization is required to stabilize the condition.
  • ARVI, colds accompanied by high fever, are often accompanied by redness of the tongue or a whitish coating.
  • HIV/AIDS and oncology provoke atrophy or impair the functioning of the salivary glands.
  • Arthritis (rheumatoid), strokes and heart attacks increase sweating.
  • A systemic autoimmune disease, Sjögren's syndrome, is characterized by dryness of all mucous membranes of the body.
  • Surgery, head and neck injuries.
  • With gastritis, diseases of the liver, and pancreas, dry mouth is accompanied by a yellow coating on the tongue and an unpleasant odor.
• Taking medications and medications. Antidepressants, antibacterial agents, anti-allergenic drugs, painkillers cause dry mouth. At the same time, in the morning, people who take a significant amount of medication complain of a bitter taste in the throat and an unpleasant aftertaste.
• Waiting for motherhood. During pregnancy, a metallic taste in the mouth, accompanied by symptoms of a dry tongue and cracked lips, is a sign of gestational diabetes. A lack of fluid is indicated by:
  • Dry air in hot weather.
  • Frequent urination.
  • Micronutrient imbalance.

In the throat

Deformation of the nasal septum, inflammation of the adenoids, polyps in the throat or nose, runny nose, sinusitis, and sinusitis disrupt calm breathing at night during rest. A bitterness in the mouth that appears in the morning, a sore throat, and dryness in the larynx are caused by an incorrect sleeping position or inhaling air not through the nose. Characteristic signs upon awakening are a dry cough and thirst.

Dry tongue

A coating on the tongue, combined with dry mouth, indicates the following problems with the body:

• Yellow color indicates problems with the liver, gall bladder caused by pancreatitis or bile duct dyskinesia.
• Nausea and a white tongue are characteristic of gastritis and problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
• A red tongue, dry mouth, and inflamed tonsils are characteristic of infectious lesions of the throat.
• A burning and dry tongue and a metallic taste in the mouth appear as symptoms of gum disease or caries.

Dry lips

An increase in the size of the outlet of the salivary glands bordering the lips is called granular cheilitis. A red border appears, and the lower lip becomes chapped, as if in severe frost. Lack of treatment leads to peeling, cracks, and ulcers and jams form in the corners. The chronic course of the disease leads to the development of tumor processes and the formation of neoplasms.

How to get rid of dry mouth

How to eliminate the feeling of dryness in your mouth:

• Treatment with folk remedies helps well: mint decoctions remove unpleasant odors; Hot pepper added to food stimulates the production of salivary secretions.
• Maintain oral hygiene by choosing high-quality toothpastes and rinses.
• Avoid salty, fatty, fried foods and unhealthy snacks.
• If you suspect a disease, consult a doctor immediately. Dry mouth caused by medication requires treatment adjustments under the supervision of a specialist.
• You can eliminate the bitter taste by chewing sugar-free gum or candy.
• Humidify the room using special devices.
• Drink more fluids, restoring the body's water balance.

Almost everyone has experienced the feeling of dry mouth. And most of us attributed this to trivial factors: high ambient temperature, eating salty foods, not drinking enough. In principle, having consumed enough fluid, symptomatic dry mouth often goes away, but, in fact, quite often the feeling of dryness in the mouth indicates problems in the vital systems of the human body.

Normal salivation is an important component of oral health. Saliva performs a number of important functions:

• protects the oral cavity from the development of ulcers and wounds that arise during friction;
• has a neutralizing effect on acids and bacteria entering the oral cavity;
• participates in the etching process;
• is a protective factor in the process of tooth remineralization;
• dissolves taste irritants.

Insufficient salivation is a problem. There can be many reasons for it, as well as ways to resolve it. And we will look at all this in detail in this material.
In medicine, insufficient salivation caused by one or another lesion of the salivary glands is referred to as xerostomia. With varying degrees of intensity, this disease affects every tenth person on the planet. Moreover, there are significantly more women among people who have dry mouth.

The main thing to remember with xerostomia is that frequent dry mouth is a marker of some problem in the body. There is no point in simply suppressing it by drinking fluids frequently. Or rather, you need to drink a lot, but you need to look for the cause of the problem, since only eliminating it can radically resolve insufficient salivation.
A one-time feeling of dry mouth is not a serious signal. This is often caused by everyday problems. Special attention requires a regular feeling of dryness, which is accompanied by a number of other symptoms relating to the oral cavity:

• the so-called “stickiness” of saliva. Feelings that when the mouth is closed for a long time, the tongue sticks to the palate;
• burning and itching in the mouth. This is mostly about language;
• bad breath;
• problems with chewing, swallowing, speech production and taste perception;
• roughness and redness of the tongue.

Dry mouth coupled with any of these symptoms is a fairly clear sign of xerostomia. In such cases, you need to consult a doctor, first a therapist, who will determine the necessary diagnostics and redirect you to a specialized specialist.

Causes of dry mouth

There is no generally accepted classification of the causes of dry mouth, nor an exact list of the prerequisites for xerostomia. At the same time, for convenience, many doctors divide the causes of dry mouth into two categories:

• pathological – associated with any disease;
• non-pathological - mainly determined by the way and mode of life.

Pathological causes of dry mouth

Dry mouth can be caused by dozens of diseases. For some of them, xerostomia is a clear symptom or concomitant factor, for some it is only a partial manifestation. It is impossible to identify absolutely all diseases that can provoke problems with salivation. Therefore, we will consider only those pathologies for which dry mouth is a characteristic symptom:

Type of disease	Manifestation of problems with salivation
Pathologies of the salivary glands	The most common problems with the salivary glands are mumps, sialostasis and sialadenitis. Most pathologies of this group are manifested by a sharp decrease in the volume of salivation or its complete cessation, as well as swelling, pain and an increase in the size of the gland.
Infections	Traditional flu, sore throat, ARVI and other infectious diseases are accompanied by high fever and excessive sweating. Insufficient replenishment of fluid in the body in such cases can manifest itself as dry mouth.
Endocrine system diseases	The most typical representative of this group, in terms of disruption of salivation processes, is diabetes mellitus. Its classic symptoms are increased thirst and dry mouth. This is due to a lack of insulin, which disrupts metabolic processes in the human body.
Traumatic dysfunction of the major salivary glands	The manifestation of xerostomia is characteristic of traumatic disorders of the sublingual, parotid or submandibular zones. Injuries of this nature often lead to the formation of ducts and ruptures in the gland, which entails a decrease in salivation.
Pathologies that result in surgical removal of the salivary glands	In most cases, oncological processes in the salivary glands and chronic inflammatory diseases lead to a similar result.
Sjögren's disease or syndrome	An autoimmune disease affecting the exocrine glands. It is one of the most common autoimmune pathologies. (Sjögren's syndrome on Wikipedia).
Processes in the body that result in increased fluid loss	Since saliva is one of the types of fluids in the body, heavy losses of fluid of any group lead to a reduction in the volume of all others. This situation may arise due to acute diarrhea and vomiting, internal and external bleeding, burns, and high body temperature. Any of these pathologies can cause dry mouth.

It is important to note that for all of these groups, dry mouth may or may not be a symptom. Therefore, self-diagnosis for insufficient salivation is unacceptable. Only qualified assistance from a specialist, coupled with a precisely selected list of diagnostic procedures, will be able to determine the true cause of xerostomia.

Non-pathological causes of dry mouth

As for non-pathological causes of dry mouth, most of them are one-time in nature and depend on a person’s lifestyle. First of all, xerostomia should be noted as a sign of dehydration. Often this manifestation is characteristic of insufficient drinking conditions, especially at high ambient temperatures. In this case, the problem is solved by drinking plenty of water. Without it, dehydration can have serious consequences.
Bad habits also lead to a feeling of dryness in the mouth: smoking and drinking alcohol. The characteristic manifestations in the morning after a feast with alcohol are familiar to many.

The use of medications can also cause xerostomia. In particular, dry mouth is present as a side effect in a number of antitumor, psychotropic and diuretic drugs, as well as in drugs of the sympathomimetic group. In addition, problems with salivation are typical for vasoconstrictors, antihistamines and antihypertensive medications.

In most cases, this side effect is not a reason to stop taking the medication. You can get rid of the feeling of dry mouth when taking medications by drinking plenty of fluids. These symptoms stop completely after the planned completion of treatment.

Feeling dry mouth during pregnancy

In a separate paragraph, it is worth considering the issue of the occurrence of xerostomia in women who are carrying a child. In them, this condition manifests itself quite often and there are many reasons for it.

The three main reasons for dry mouth in pregnant women are increased sweating, frequent urination, and the body’s adaptation to increased physical activity, which are characteristic of their condition. All this can be compensated for by drinking more.

In addition to them, dry mouth during pregnancy can be caused by a lack of potassium in the body, or by an excessive amount of magnesium. These causes already require appropriate therapy.

There are also cases when a pregnant woman experiences a metallic taste and dry mouth. Such symptoms are characteristic of a disease such as gestational diabetes and are a prerequisite for in-depth laboratory tests that are aimed at determining the amount of glucose in the blood and the body’s tolerance to it.
Otherwise, dry mouth in pregnant women is caused by the same reasons as in other people and requires the same diagnosis.

Dry mouth: causes and solutions

To determine the cause of dry mouth, your doctor must do two things:

• conduct a thorough analysis of the patient's medical history to determine the likely causes of such manifestations;
• prescribe the necessary diagnostic procedures that will confirm or refute the alleged preconditions for the occurrence of dry mouth.

Diagnosis of the causes that led to dry mouth may include a whole range of studies, the list of which depends on the probable pathology. Let's look at those that are most common.

First of all, if you have dry mouth, you need to determine the presence of diseases that disrupt the functioning of the salivary glands. For these tasks, computer (effective for identifying tumors) and magnetic resonance imaging are used, as well as studying the level of necessary components in saliva (enzymes, microelements, macroelements, immunoglobulins).

In addition, to determine deviations in the process of salivation, sialometry (assessment of the rate of salivary secretion), sialoadenolymphography (a study to identify metastases of the salivary glands), biopsy and salivary cytology are used, which are used for detected tumors in the salivary glands.
All these analyzes and studies are aimed at determining the correct functioning of the salivary system.

In addition to them, if the patient has a dry mouth, the following laboratory tests are used:

• general blood and urine tests that will show scleroderma, iron deficiency anemia, and the presence of inflammatory processes in the body;
• measuring blood glucose levels is the main test for diabetes mellitus;
• ultrasound examination to determine the presence of a cyst, tumor, neuritis or stones in the salivary gland area;
• serological blood test, which is the main one in diagnosing Sjögren's syndrome.

In addition, the doctor may prescribe other laboratory tests, the list of which is determined by studying the medical history and the list of patient complaints.

What can cause dry mouth?

It is sufficient to clearly determine the nature of the pathology that provokes dry mouth; its specification, as well as the accompanying symptoms, helps. There can be very, very many such combinations, and we will indicate the most common among them. For ease of perception, we will do this in the form of a table:

Features of dry mouth or accompanying symptoms	Probable pathology or cause
Burning tongue	Side effects after taking medications, Sjögren's syndrome, stress conditions.
Dry mouth in the morning after sleep	Respiratory pathologies. Most often - breathing through the mouth during sleep and accompanying snoring, diabetes mellitus.
Causes of persistent dry mouth at night	Insufficient humidity in the bedroom, problems with metabolism in the body, smoking, eating a large meal before bed.
Frequent urination	Diabetes.
Nausea	Intoxication, hypoglycemia, concussion.
Dry mouth after eating	Pathologies of the salivary glands, which do not allow the production of enough saliva to digest food.
Bitterness in the mouth	Dehydration, smoking, inflammatory processes in the oral cavity and nasopharynx.
Dryness of other mucous membranes of the body	Sjögren's syndrome, change in climatic living conditions.
Dizziness	Low blood pressure

Using additional markers for dry mouth is extremely important. This minimizes the likelihood of incorrect diagnosis and prevents developing pathologies from being missed. Therefore, when turning to a doctor with a problem of dry mouth, you need to describe to him in as much detail as possible other uncharacteristic sensations that have appeared recently. This will greatly simplify the task of correct diagnosis and increase the likelihood of developing the correct treatment tactics.

What to do if your mouth is dry and the dryness does not go away

We have already indicated that dry mouth or xerostomia is not an independent pathology, but a manifestation of a disease. Therefore, to eliminate it, first of all, you need to overcome the cause of dryness. Most often, correctly selected therapy for the provoking disease effectively relieves xerostomia.

In fact, there is no specific treatment for dry mouth. Doctors recommend only a small list of measures aimed at eliminating this manifestation:

• The first thing to try if you have a dry mouth is to increase your fluid intake. Drinking plenty of unsweetened, non-carbonated drinks will often eliminate the problem if there are no serious reasons behind it. This same category includes an increase in air humidity in a house or apartment;
• The second step that is worth trying for xerostomia is changing your diet. Dry mouth can be a result of excessive consumption of salt and fried foods. By reducing them in your diet, one of the likely causes will be less;
• The third step, but not least important, is getting rid of bad habits. Drinking alcohol and smoking almost always lead to a feeling of dry mouth. So giving up these habits will be useful from this side as well;
• Chewing gum with candies also have a positive effect. The process of chewing reflexively stimulates the production of saliva, so eating them will at least temporarily relieve dry mouth. But, you need to remember that chewing gum should not contain sugar, as it only increases xerostomia;
• If you experience dry mouth and dryness around the mouth, then moisturizing lip balms will come to the rescue. They cope with this manifestation of xerostomia quite effectively;
• The last step is the most radical - stimulating saliva production. For this, special medications or regular hot pepper can be used. The substance capsaicin it contains stimulates the salivary glands, which helps get rid of the feeling of dry mouth. But the use of these techniques should be carried out only after consultation with a doctor, since it is necessary to make sure that dry mouth occurs due to insufficient saliva production and not due to other pathologies.

One of the problems in the body is insufficient functioning of the salivary glands, which causes dry mouth. There are many reasons that cause inadequate salivation, and ignoring the problem can lead to aggravation of the situation and to a chronic form of the disease.

Dysfunction of the salivary glands affects about 12% of the world's population. A decrease in the activity of the salivary glands causes a weakening of the protective functions of the oral cavity, which provokes the development of pathogenic microflora.

An unhealthy condition of the oral mucosa leads to gum disease and can provoke the development of caries, chronic tonsillitis, and stomatitis. Bad breath and sores on the lips are the consequences of lack of proper treatment.

Dry mouth (the causes of the disease it causes will be described below) can be caused by the following factors:

In addition to the feeling of dryness, the presence of additional symptoms may be observed in the oral cavity, which cannot be ignored for an accurate diagnosis.

Signs of disease, accompanied by dryness, bitterness, burning in the mouth

Factors that provoke inadequate functioning of the salivary glands can be short-term, long-term and permanent. A short-term phenomenon most often goes away on its own and does not entail the development of serious pathologies.

Prolonged dryness in the mouth, which is accompanied by bitterness and burning, can occur in the presence of the following diseases:

• The appearance of foci of inflammation in the head and spine.
• Oral diseases and dental problems caused by a lack of saliva to maintain healthy microflora.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: enteritis, lazy stomach syndrome, colitis, gastritis, stomach ulcers, dysbacteriosis.
• Inflammatory processes in the liver and biliary system.
• Disruption of the endocrine system.
• Arterial hypotension.
• Menopause.
• HIV AIDS.

A responsible attitude towards one’s own health means taking into account all accompanying symptoms. This will help prevent the development of complications in the presence of any of the diseases.

Helicobacter gastritis

This type of gastritis spreads quite easily between people. Light contact with a sick person or using shared utensils is enough for Helicobacter to settle in a healthy body.

Typical symptoms for this disease are:

• unpleasant odor and dry mouth;
• nausea, feeling of thirst;
• pain in the stomach and burning in the esophagus;
• flatulence;
• feeling of heaviness in the stomach.

If Helicobacter pylori gastritis is detected, complex treatment with medications and maintenance of a therapeutic diet are indicated.

Hypotension

Constant attacks of hypotension are accompanied by symptoms:

• dizziness;
• constant feeling of thirst and dryness in the mouth;
• unhealthy skin color;
• general weakness.

Chronic hypotension is caused by constant low blood pressure and does not allow all organs and systems to function normally. In addition to decreased salivation, a state of apathy, increased fatigue, and impaired thermoregulation are often observed.

Dry mouth, along with the above symptoms, is a direct indication for contacting a therapist and cardiologist. They will help determine which disease is caused by negative manifestations.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman experiences symptoms that are unusual for her. This is due to the heavy load on all organs and hormonal instability.

Sometimes dry mouth is not the cause of any illness. Pregnant women often experience dryness, although this is considered normal and goes away after childbirth.

The feeling of dry mouth while pregnant can occur for various reasons:

• Dehydration of the body due to toxicosis.
• Increased sweating.
• Difficulty in nasal breathing.
• Anemia.
• Unusual taste preferences.

Most often, during the postpartum period, the body’s functioning normalizes, swelling will no longer bother you, and the food you eat will become more healthy. During pregnancy, a woman can help herself by independently monitoring her fluid balance, giving up bad habits and eating the healthiest foods possible.

Glandular cheilitis

The feeling of dryness in the mouth can be caused by an inflammatory disease that affects the salivary glands located in the thickness of the lips. The risk of developing glandular cheilitis increases significantly with poor quality care for the cleanliness of the oral cavity, smoking and the presence of active foci of inflammation on the mucous membrane.

The main symptoms of cheilitis are:

• peeling and burning on the lips;
• redness, bleeding ulcers;
• dry mouth, lips and tongue;
• painful sensations.

It is very important to prevent glandular cheilitis from becoming chronic. To do this, you should pay attention to the frequency of cracks on the lips, scaly crusts and a constant feeling of dryness. If symptoms persist for a long time, you should seek help from a medical facility.

IBS

Intestinal dysfunction can be caused by hormonal changes, dysbacteriosis, or changes in the usual diet.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is accompanied by additional symptoms:

• abdominal pain;
• sudden changes in stool: from diarrhea to constipation;
• flatulence, bloating.

These unpleasant symptoms may include a feeling of weakness, nausea and dry mouth. The development of IBS is largely facilitated by a person’s psychological state, so eliminating stress is important in treating the disease.

In addition, you will need to follow a diet and treatment with drugs to improve intestinal function.

Side effect of antibiotics

For some diseases, antibiotics are the only treatment. Despite their high effectiveness, antibiotics can cause a number of negative side reactions.

The main negative consequences include:

• disturbance of intestinal microflora;
• allergic reactions;
• malfunctions of the digestive system;
• disruption of cellular respiration.

Due to such disorders, problems with stool, nausea, and dry mouth may occur.

To minimize negative manifestations, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Take the drug at certain hours.
2. Take probiotics throughout the course of treatment.
3. Follow a diet.

Unpleasant sensations may occur immediately after starting antibiotics, or they may occur several days later. If there are other side effects, you will need to consult a doctor and possibly discontinue the drug.

For diabetes

Dry mouth (a biofluid analysis will help determine the causes of the disease) causes discomfort if it bothers you for a long time.

The level of glucose in the blood may change, which will reduce the body's protective functions and lead to dehydration.

The presence of diabetes mellitus obliges the patient to periodically be under the supervision of a doctor, undergo examinations and receive the necessary recommendations. Taking insulin medications will help maintain blood sugar levels and relieve additional discomfort such as dry mouth and general malaise.

For pancreatitis

The intake of food into the body provokes the production of special substances that are necessary for the digestion of foods. In the general metabolic process, such enzymes are vital. For various reasons, the ducts to the organs may be blocked, in which case the food processing process is activated directly in the gland.

In this case, cutting pain is observed, the temperature may rise, and nausea and dryness in the oral cavity may occur. With the onset of the acute stage, a sharp deterioration in the patient's condition may occur. In order to avoid a sharp deterioration, you should consult a doctor when the first suspicious symptoms of pancreatitis appear.

During menopause

Due to the beginning of the attenuation of the processes of full functioning of the ovaries in women, numerous changes occur in the functioning of the whole organism. Along with irregular menstruation and constant hot flashes, dry mucous membranes may be felt.

The feeling of lack of hydration can affect the throat, mouth, vagina, and eyes. This condition is associated with a decrease in the level of the hormone estrogen, the deficiency of which leads to various uncomfortable sensations.

To get rid of dry mouth, the following recommendations will help:

• During the day, you should drink enough water to avoid dehydration.
• If your lips dry out, use special moisturizers.
• Limit intake of smoked and salty foods. You should increase your consumption of juicy fruits and vegetables, herbs.
• To facilitate general well-being, it is advisable to saturate the body with vitamins; the use of sedatives of medicinal origin is not excluded.

If dry mouth bothers you in a certain room, then you should take care of the level of air humidity by using a humidifier. If possible, you should undergo a comprehensive examination, as a result of which you can determine the presence or absence of health problems.

For HIV

HIV is characterized by decreased immunity and the body's resistance to various diseases. In this regard, diseases of the mucous membranes of the mouth are far from a rare occurrence in HIV. Dysfunction of the salivary glands can lead to exacerbation and development of other diseases.

To eliminate such an unpleasant symptom as dryness, you should take care of a healthy diet and normalize your drinking regime. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring that food is maximally saturated with beneficial vitamins, which are the basis for maintaining immunity.

What does the time of dryness indicate: morning, afternoon, evening, night

To understand the reason for the defective functioning of the salivary glands, which can cause the development of physiological or pathological problems, Observing the time of day when this problem begins to bother you will help:

Daytime dryness is the most dangerous and its presence over a long period is a direct indication for consulting a doctor:

If independent elimination of the causes does not help restore normal functioning of the salivary glands, then you should seek help from a doctor. Complete treatment will not only eliminate general symptoms, but also take a comprehensive approach to treating the disease.

Consequences of constant dryness

Saliva is necessary for a person to constantly moisturize and cleanse the oral cavity. If you do not understand the cause of dysfunction of the salivary glands in a timely manner, then everyday life will be overshadowed by unpleasant sensations.

Insufficient saliva production subsequently leads to adverse consequences:

1. The appearance of cracks in the corners of the lips.
2. The appearance of bad breath.
3. The occurrence of disease of teeth and gums.
4. Burning tongue.
5. The taste of food begins to change.
6. Partial or complete atrophy of the mucosa.
7. Hoarse voice.
8. Deterioration of diction.

Particular attention should be paid if dry mouth occurs along with the appearance of an unpleasant aftertaste, which can be metallic, bitter or sour.

How to make the correct diagnosis?

Timely diagnosis is the most important step towards solving the problem of dry mouth. First of all, you should contact a therapist with a complaint, who will conduct a visual examination of the patient’s mucous membranes.

Further diagnostics will be more narrowly focused and consist of the following types of examinations:

Computed tomography and probing of the ducts of the salivary glands may be prescribed as an additional examination of the patient’s condition. Based on the results obtained, the therapist will refer the patient for consultation with specialized specialists: infectious disease specialist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, surgeon.

Based on the test results, appropriate treatment will be prescribed depending on the causes of the disorders.

Treatment for dry mouth

Dry mouth (the causes of which disease are such deviations was described earlier) may indicate the presence of various diseases. Drug therapy should be selected by a qualified physician, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient’s body and the identified disease.

General treatment principles will include the following recommendations:

Depending on the severity of the disease, a therapeutic diet may be prescribed, which can significantly alleviate the patient’s condition.

Symptomatic therapy

Without a diagnosis, there is no point in treating dry mouth.

However, it is possible to temporarily alleviate the condition with the help of the following recommendations:

In addition, you should pay attention to the foods you consume: exclude fast food, dry snacks, and smoked foods. The diet should be as rich as possible in healthy vitamins, food should be soft and not dry.

Treatment with traditional medicine

Traditional medicine advice is unlikely to help in the presence of complex diseases, but as supportive therapy they can relieve discomfort.

• Increasing the consumption of coriander seeds and parsley.
• Saturation of the diet with vegetables and fruits.
• Drinking water with lemon juice in the absence of visible diseases from the gastrointestinal tract.
• Drinking teas with the addition of mint and eucalyptus leaves. This will freshen your breath, eliminate any possible unpleasant taste and promote saliva production.
• Mouth rinse with infusions of blueberries, sage and chamomile. The remedy can be prepared by pouring the ingredients in an amount of 1 tbsp. each with 1 cup boiling water. 1 hour will be enough to prepare the composition, after which it can be used.

These methods are short-term ways to improve the condition, but do not replace the requirement for drug therapy.

In everyday life, dry mouth can cause a lot of inconvenience, so you should not ignore this problem. A comprehensive examination and treatment, aimed not only at eliminating symptoms, but also providing comprehensive therapy, will help determine which disease is caused by insufficient saliva production.

Article format: Vladimir the Great

Video about dry mouth

Causes and treatment of dry mouth:

- This is an unpleasant sensation that can be a symptom of serious illnesses. If dry mouth occurs constantly or frequently, it is necessary to understand the cause that is causing it and, if necessary, begin treatment. Elimination of dry mouth, as a rule, is achieved only as a result of treating the underlying disease, which should be the true goal. In any case, the feeling of dry mouth is another reason to pay attention to your health.

Dry mouth is caused by insufficient hydration of the oral mucosa, mostly due to insufficient saliva production. In medicine, dry mouth caused by a cessation or decrease in saliva production is called xerostomia.

Quite often, dry mouth occurs in the morning or at night (that is, after sleep).

Symptoms associated with dry mouth

Dry mouth in most cases manifests itself as a complex of symptoms described as:

• "viscosity" or "stickiness" in the mouth;
• thirst;
• irritation of the oral mucosa (burning and itching), the appearance of a bright border of the lips, cracks on the lips and in the corners of the mouth;
• dry tongue. The tongue turns red and becomes rough. It becomes more difficult to speak, chew and swallow. Decreased taste perception;
• dry throat. The voice becomes hoarse and more hoarse;
• there is an unpleasant odor from the mouth.

Causes of dry mouth that are not pathological

In some cases, dry mouth is not associated with a medical condition. For example:

Dry mouth can occur in the morning and at night due to intoxication. This is a typical situation after drinking too much the night before.

Diseases that may cause dry mouth

Dry mouth can be caused by high fever and intoxication due to various infectious diseases (, etc.). Diseases associated with large loss of fluid as a result of or (cholera, dysentery) can also cause dry mouth. In such cases, dry mouth is one of many symptoms and does not attract special attention.

Dry mouth in combination with white or yellow may indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract such as duodenitis.

Dry mouth can also occur with:

diseases of the salivary glands;

systemic diseases (scleroderma, Sjogren's disease, cystic fibrosis).

Eliminate dry mouth

If dry mouth is caused by drinking alcohol and smoking, then it can only be eliminated by getting rid of the bad habit. It is recommended to reduce the consumption of salty and sweet foods. Pay attention to how you breathe - through your nose or mouth. If nasal breathing is difficult, the cause must be diagnosed and nasal breathing restored. To do this, you will have to see a doctor. It is also important to monitor the humidity in the room.

Dry mouth is the appearance of dryness of the oral mucosa, which is caused by a reduced secretory ability of the salivary glands or its complete absence. In medicine, this pathology is called “xerostomia”. In the chronic form of this disorder, it becomes difficult for a person to swallow, eat and speak, which negatively affects the quality of life. The temporary manifestation of such a symptom does not always require treatment, while severe, prolonged dry mouth requires immediate attention to a medical facility.

Etiology

There are more than enough reasons why your mouth feels dry in the morning or during sleep. This symptom may appear in the event of the development of such ailments:

• pathologies of the oral cavity;
• , including alcohol;
• gastroenterological disorders;
• acute purulent processes;
• inflammatory diseases;
• surgical pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

In addition to ailments accompanied by this symptom, clinicians identify factors that contribute to the formation of dry mouth:

• impaired sensitivity of tongue receptors;
• insufficient amount of fluid consumed;
• breathing through the mouth;
• disruption of the nutritional processes of the oral mucosa;
• disturbance of the body's water-electrolyte balance or dehydration;
• pathologies of the endocrine system;
• mechanical drying due to exposure to warm air.

Also, dry mouth in the morning can occur with long-term treatment with certain medications.

Dry mouth is often observed during pregnancy. In this case, the short-term appearance of such a symptom should not cause concern.

As a rule, a decrease in the excretory function of the salivary glands manifests itself in the morning or at night. Snoring, mouth breathing and intoxication of the body after excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to the appearance of dry mouth in the morning.

Dry mouth at night can occur due to difficulty breathing through the nose, excessive consumption of fatty, spicy and salty foods at night. If such a symptom does not go away within a few days, you should consult a doctor.

Quite often the cause of dry mouth at night is diabetes.

Symptoms

The appearance of dry mouth should not be considered as an independent pathological process. Almost always, this violation is a sign of the development of a certain disease.

Persistent dry mouth may be accompanied by the following clinical signs:

The presence of such additional symptoms clearly indicates the development of certain pathological processes in the body. In this case, it is strongly not recommended to take any medications or traditional medicine, as this can lead to the development of complications. In addition, unauthorized use of drugs blurs the clinical picture, which complicates further diagnosis and may lead to the prescription of incorrect treatment.

Diagnostics

First of all, a detailed physical examination of the patient is carried out to determine complaints, life history and medical history. To make a correct diagnosis and identify the etiology of a symptom, the doctor may prescribe the following laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods:

• drawing blood to determine glucose levels;
• blood sampling to determine the level of thyroid hormones;
• linked immunosorbent assay;
• serological studies;
• plain radiography;
• sialometry;
• biopsy and cytology of the salivary glands;
• probing the ducts of the salivary glands.

The attending physician can determine the cause of dry mouth at night or in the morning after receiving the results of the examination and taking into account the overall clinical picture. Only after this a course of therapy is prescribed.

Treatment

Therapy will depend on the etiological process, which manifests itself as dry mouth. A general treatment program may consist of the following:

• cure from the underlying disease;
• giving up bad habits, if any;
• normalization of nutrition and daily routine;
• drinking plenty of water;
• exclusion of alcoholic beverages.

It should be noted that dry mouth during pregnancy does not always allow the use of pharmacological agents, so a preliminary consultation with a doctor is required.

You can also use traditional medicine to eliminate this symptom, but only after talking with a doctor and as an addition to the main course of treatment. The traditional therapy method, in this case, involves the following:

• regularly rinse your mouth with lemon water;
• using a decoction of coltsfoot;
• lubricating the surface of the lips with Vaseline or hygienic lipstick;
• eating sugar-free candies.

In any case, if dry mouth occurs almost constantly after sleep, you should consult a doctor for advice rather than try to fix the problem yourself.

Prevention

Since xerostomia is not a separate disease, there are no specific methods of prevention. However, if you apply in practice the general recommendations for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing illnesses, you can eliminate this problem.

• timely treatment of all viral and infectious diseases;
• proper nutrition - you should not abuse fatty, spicy and salty foods, especially during dinner;
• eliminating bad habits - smoking and drinking alcohol;
• correct body position during sleep, which will ensure proper breathing;
• avoiding stress and nervous tension;
• undergoing regular medical examination.