It is nothing new for the top dental hospital in Delhi to see an outpour of patients who complain about dryness of their mouths and a number of dental issues getting cropped up due to this dryness. The clinical term for this dryness is Xerostomia; in some cases it can be so nagging that it can cause discomfort every now and again and can be very painful as well. At times, even the throat is so parched that a person can’t even swallow.
While there are other causes for dry mouth, many prescription and non-prescription medications list dry mouth as a side effect of their product causing impairment in the quality of your saliva. A condition wherein you suffer from dry mouth on a consistent basis is known as Xerostomia. This can be primarily caused due to certain medication but at the same time, it can also be a manifestation of certain diseases such as Aids, anemia, stroke, hypertension, cystic fibrosis, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, diabetes and a condition called Sjogren’s syndrome. By and large the drug-induced Xerostomia is a growing problem which only adds to the aggravation in finding both relief and an alternative medication.
The Importance of Saliva
The production of saliva is an important process in the mouth, we normally relates saliva with moistening of mouth only. But the fact remains that saliva not only moistens the mouth, but it helps control the levels of bacteria and fungi in our mouths, aids in chewing, tasting and digestion. It also helps in cleaning, protection and re-mineralizing of teeth. Naturally, when a patient complains about a decrease in the quality and quantity of their saliva, it becomes a cause of concern. Continue reading