由 home-healthhaven 
Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, can be a real bother and might lead to issues like tooth decay and bad breath. There are various causes and treatments for this condition.
### Symptoms of Xerostomia
When you have dry mouth, you don’t produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. This can result in cracked lips, sores at the corners of your mouth, mouth ulcers, trouble swallowing, loss of taste, bad breath, sore throat, gum disease, tooth decay, and thick saliva. You might also get fungal infections.
### Causes of Xerostomia
Many medications can lead to dry mouth. Common ones include decongestants, antihistamines, antidiarrheals, and anxiety medications. Drugs used in chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer often have dry mouth as a side effect. Injuries or nerve damage in the neck can also cause dry mouth. Other contributors include conditions like diabetes, snoring, and autoimmune diseases.
### Treatment Of Xerostomia
To treat dry mouth, you first need to figure out what’s causing it. If it’s due to a medication, the problem might go away once you stop the drug. If you need to stay on the medication, your doctor might adjust the dosage or switch you to a different type. In severe cases, your doctor might prescribe medications that help produce saliva. Quitting smoking, ditching caffeine, and cutting back on alcohol can also help since these can dry out your mouth.
To boost saliva flow, try sucking on ice chips, hard candy, or chewing sugar-free gum throughout the day. Protect your teeth by avoiding sugary foods and using a fluoride gel or rinse before bed. Your dentist might recommend a device to protect your teeth while you sleep. Try to breathe through your nose and consider using a humidifier at night to add moisture. You can also find saliva substitutes at the drugstore that might be useful; they contain ingredients like hydroxyethyl cellulose or carboxymethylcellulose to help keep your mouth moist.
While dry mouth might seem like a minor issue, it can become a serious problem if it makes swallowing difficult or leads to sores, infections, or tooth decay. There are effective treatments available, so if your dry mouth continues and you can’t manage it on your own, seek advice from a healthcare provider.