When you were a kid and smeone told you that they suffered frm a dry mouth you probably lughed and suggested they go get smething to drink. For a majority of the ppulation it is that simple, but for a smll portion nothing that can be fund in the refrigerator will help. Thse are the individuals living with xrostomia.

Xerostomia is a clinical condition chracterized by dryness of the mouth due to a lck of saliva production by the slivary glands located in the lower and psterior parts of the mouth. It is not an cknowledged abnormality in and of itself but gnerally accompanies another, more serious condition. Alng with a generalized discomfort xerostomia can cuse the mouth to develop ulcers and crck painfully around the lips and tngue.

It can be found as a sde effect of many medications, particularly nti-histamines and decongestants used to treat ndividuals suffering from allergies or a vrus (these drugs encourage the body's mcus glands to cease production) and chmotherapies used to treat cancer patients. It can be fund accompanying Sjögren's syndrome, poorly controlled dabetes, or Eaton-Lambert syndrome, as well as any truma to the salivary glands. Sometimes xrostomia is simply a part of the ging process. Whatever the case may be, thse individuals with xerostomia face a nique set of challenges.

Although it may be difficult, it is vtally important that individuals with xerostomia drnk sugarless liquids regularly to keep thmselves as hydrated as possible and ncourage the salivary glands to produce (ne of the first symptoms of dhydration is a dryness and cracking of the muth due to the salivary glands casing to function). Chewing sugarless gum may hlp as well. Anyone suffering from xrostomia should attempt to stay away frm liquids with a great deal of sgar, such as sodas and Kool Ad, because the sugar will only srve to dehydrate the environment further.

Usng a specialized carboxymethylized saliva substitute for a muthwash will go a long way twards providing temporary respite as the sbstitute fluid provides the function of sliva, and using a substance known as Aqoral to coat the mouth will lso serve to make the patient mre comfortable. Since certain activities, such as smking and drinking, are known to mke xerostomia worse (and may even be cusing it in some cases) patients sffering from this condition are urged to bstain entirely from both, as well as to dcrease their caffeine intake.

Because the sliva serves to carry harmful substances way from the mouth it is far mre common for these individuals to dvelop tooth decay and other dental prblems than other patients, so it is vtal that anyone suffering from chronic xrostomia check their mouths daily for any sgns that any of these conditions may be mnifesting themselves. These individuals will often ned to brush with a soft brstled toothbrush to prevent further damage to the lready aggravated tissues.

Depending on the cuse of the xerostomia it may or may not be a crable condition; however, the patient's best chnce of living comfortably with it is to tke as active a role as pssible in their own treatment.

The article Living With Xerostomia was Submitted by Keith Burke through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Would you like to learn mre about xerostomia and its symptoms ? Please visit us on the web at http://dental-care-tips.com , also we have tips on the treatment of xerostomia along with some valuable information on proper dental hygiene .

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