ORAL DROUGHT!!

               DRY MOUTH (XEROSTOMIA)

HI READERS, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL.

I have come up with another staggering  DENTAL BLOG in relation to  DRY MOUTH which is also called XEROSTOMIA(CHRONIC DRY MOUTH) which is more than inconvenience in our lives.

DRY MOUTH happens with limited production of saliva/absence  owing to Physiological changes in the salivary glands in response to EXTERNAL FACTORS AND INTERNAL FACTORS.

SALIVARY SIGNIFICANCE:

SALIVA CONTAINS PROTEINS AND ENZYMES ESSENTIAL FOR LUBRICATION OF THE MOUTH. IT HELPS IN FLUSHING OUT BAD BACTERIA AND FOOD PARTICLES STUCK INSIDE THE MOUTH AND AROUND TEETH LEADING TO FORMATION OF PLAQUE (TARTAR) EXACERBATING THE ORAL HEALTH ISSUES.

It’s a terrible experience in terms of ORAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES.

IMPORTANTLY ,THE EFFECT OF XEROSTOMIA CREATES  A BIG HAVOC MAINLY ON THE ORAL HEALTH TISSUES AND THEIR  HEALTHY FUNCTIONING. 

ADVERSE EFFECTS ON ORAL HEALTH ARE MORE PREVALENT WHICH MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY WITHOUT SHEER IGNORANCE. 

CAUSATION OF XEROSTOMIA : 

EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FACTORS.

OVER USAGE OF MEDICATION or CHANGE OF MEDICATION(NEW MEDICATION)-

(Avoid excessive use of antihistamines and decongestants for flu/cough/common cold and mild to moderate allergies, muscle relaxants,anti depressants, sedatives etc.)

 

MEDICAL CONDITION like HYPERTENSION, DIABETES, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, ANAEMIA,SJOGREN SYNDROME (AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE).

IN AGING ( SALIVARY FLOW WORSENS WITH AGE -MORE COMMON IN WOMEN THAN MEN) . IN ELDERLY PEOPLE, DENTURE PROSTHESIS FIT IN ANY FORM OF DENTURE (WHETHER TEMPORARY OR FIXED DENTURES) GETS HAMPERED DRASTICALLY. ITS THE COMMONEST CAUSE SEEN SO FAR.

Medical treatments that damage the salivary glands including the CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIOTHERAPY FOR CANCER TREATMENT.

 

DAMAGE TO THE NERVE SUPPLY TO THE SALIVARY GLANDS AS A RESULT TO SURGICAL PROCEDURE.

MOUTH BREATHING(UNDERLYING CAUSE CORRECTION TO BE CONSIDERED ASAP).

CONDITIONS LIKE DEHYDRATION DUE TO DIARRHOEA,VOMITING,  BLOOD LOSS, BURNS,EXCESSIVE SWEATING, FEVER ETC.

CONGENITAL DEFECTS OR SURGICAL REMOVAL OF SALIVARY GLANDS.

PRODUCTION OF SALIVA IN LIMITED MANNER CAUSING ABNORMAL OUTCOME:

COMES DOWN IN THE NIGHT , THUS PRODUCING MORNING BREATH-HALITOSIS (ODOUR VARIES FROM ONE  INDIVIDUAL TO ANOTHER),can be worse in some cases.

BUT IF IT HAPPENS FOR PROLONGED PERIODS, IT’S IMPACT ON THE MOUTH IS VERY  AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF CAVITIES DEVELOPMENT AT A FAST PACE. 

UNHEALTHY PRACTICES LIKE CHEWING TOBACCO OR CONSUMING ALCOHOL.

AND ALSO AGGRAVATE THE GUM DISEASE (CAUSING GINGIVAL INFLAMMATION AND IF IN PROGRESSION CAN LEAD TO SEVERE GUM RECESSION. 

SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH XEROSTOMIA VARY:

Mouth discomfort (STICKINESS OF MOUTH).

Changes in taste.(Distasteful experience/Altered taste)(DISGUESIA).

Mouth infections (ORAL FUNGAL INFECTIONS-CANDIDIADIS).

 

CRACKING/FISSURRING  OF LIPS(CHELITIS).

ORAL BLISTERS(ULCERS). 

DRYNESS OF THROAT (SORE THROAT)  AND TONGUE(COATED TONGUE).

SPEECH PROBLEMS.

PAINFUL TONGUE(ULCERATIVE )-

(GLOSSODYNIA).

SALIVARY GLAND INFECTIONS (SIALADENITIS)-BLOCKED(OCCLUDED SALIVARY GLAND DUCTS).

SO DEAR READERS ,

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE REPERCUSSIONS OF DECREADED SALIVA FLOW IN THE MOUTH, WHICH IF IGNORED BY ANY MEANS CAN AFFECT YOU ALL IN A LARGER WAY BRINGING DOWN YOUR PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL  AND ALSO AESTHETIC WELLBEING. 

Do's and Don’ts to BE KEPT IN MIND BY BEING PROACTIVE INSTEAD LATER GETTING INTO A MAJOR PROBLEM. 

LET’S ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL TO FOLLOW:

Drink water in small sips regularly which will keep you hydrated all the day.

Coat the lips with petroleum jelly(VASELINE).

Chew sugarless gums after meals which will stimulate your glands to produce more and more saliva.

Use lubricating lozenges ,saliva replacements spray for moisture retention. 

Use of Humidifiers in the rooms indoor for replenishing the dry environment making it moist .

NOT TO BE FOLLOWED :RESTRICTIONS TO BE KEPT IN MIND-

AVOID SUGAR CANDY CHEWING. 

AVOID CAFFEINE(CAFFEINATED BEVERAGES).

AVOID ALCOHOL, TOBACCO PRODUCTS ETC.

AVOID ALCOHOL BASED MOUTH RINSE.

AVOID AERATED DRINKS.

AVOID SALTY AND SPICY FOODS. 

USE SALIVARY SUBSTITUTES AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. 

PRACTICE NOSE (NASAL) BREATHING. 

AVOID DRY CRUNCHY FOODS .TRY TO DUNK THEM  INTO LIQUIDS MAKING IT SOFTER BY CONSUMING MORE OF CURDS,CREAM,SOUPS ETC.

AVOID STRESS AND ANXIETY BY MEDITATION AND YOGA.

AVOID CITRUS FOODS AGGRAVATING TONGUE BURNING. (Glossodynia). BUT IN SOME CASES SOUR FOODS AND LEMONS STIMULATE SALIVARY FLOW.

IMPORTANCE OF XYLITOL:-

     

 

HELP FOR THE SWEET TOOTH READERS.

IF YOU HAVE A SWEET TOOTH ,GO IN FOR THE XYLITOL CONTAINING GUMS OR CANDIES.

RECEPTIVE AND COMMITTED APPROACH:

We need to visit the DENTIST EVERY 6 MONTHS  FOR IN-DEPTH  GUIDANCE FROM THE CONCERNED DENTAL PROFESSIONALS. 

MAINTAIN ORAL HYGIENE REGIME RELIGIOUSLY AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. (REGULAR BRUSHING AND FLOSSING WITH MOUTH RINSING).

NOTE:

DRYNESS OF MOUTH (XEROSTOMIA) IS ONE OF THE SYMPTOM COME UP WITH  COVID 19. KINDLY BE AWARE OF IT.

DEAR READERS, 

IN ORDER TO AVOID DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON YOUR OVERALL HEALTH, GET YOURSELF CHECKED UP REGULARLY WITHOUT WASTING ANYMORE TIME.

HERE I AM  TO HELP YOU ALL IN GETTING VIGILANT, SO THAT YOU ALL CAN KEEP A CHECK ON YOUR ORAL HEALTH STATUS WITH VARIANT DENTAL MATTER EMPHASIZING FOR YOUR DENTAL SOUNDNESS.

So Here are 2 informative videos on XEROSTOMIA.https://youtu.be/52CMXCe2_CY

https://youtu.be/QmdhRER-TFo

KINDLY FOLLOW AND COMMENT.

COME FORWARD AND PUT UP YOUR QUERIES OPENLY.

THANKYOU.