The Captains Lady

Do You Have Dry Mouth?

Sometimes referred to as Sicca Syndrome, the clinical name for dry mouth is Xerostomia (pronounced ZEER-oh-STOH-mee-ah). Sicca Syndrome may, or may not, be related to Sjogren's Disease (an autoimmune disorder). Sjogren's (pronounced SHOW-grens) also often exhibits other dryness issues, such as with the eyes, nose, intestines (causing constipation) and vagina (causing irritation). It is also related to ear fullness, hearing loss and ear noise. I mention Sjogren's because Sicca Syndrome usually is found in combination with other autoimmune disorders, with Sjogren's being the most common. However, you can have dry mouth for other reasons as well.

The cause of Xerostomia is the underproduction of saliva from the salivary glands. This condition is most often a 'total body' condition and not a 'mouth' condition, meaning there is something else going on in your body (or mind) or you are putting something in your mouth that doesn't work for you.

 

Symptoms of Dry Mouth

Symptoms may include dry mouth and tongue, a sensation that your tongue or other parts of the mouth are burning, mouth sores, metallic taste, reduced ability to taste certain foods, sensitivity to spicy, acidic and salty foods, trouble swallowing, areas of soreness when using dentures or partials, significant increase in cavities or dental carries (tiny dips in teeth at the gum line) and difficulty in talking (as if your tongue gets caught on the inside of your cheek). You may also notice your tongue looks a different color than it used to.

The natural job of saliva is to begin digestion, protect teeth from decay and the mouth from infection by washing away sugars and food particles, and to facilitate chewing and swallowing. It is hard to chew and swallow when there is not enough moisture. Imagine eating a mouthful of dry crackers with nothing to wash it down. This is the constant effect of salivary glands not functioning properly.

 

Causes of Dry Mouth

Most common is drugs. There are over 1800 drugs that can cause dry mouth and eyes. The most common types of drugs leading to this condition are high blood pressure medications, antidepressants, allergy medications, weight loss and pain prescriptions and OTC drugs. For a list of these drugs, click here.

Caffeine dries out the mouth and is found is sodas, tea, coffee, chocolate and some drugs (Exedrin, etc.). Caffeine is also a diuretic and causes dehydration, another cause of dry mouth. It is also a stimulant, which reduces the supply of serotonin in the brain, leading to stress, which is another cause of dry mouth. Switch to decaf!

Peroxide in toothpastes and mouth washes.

Tobacco and alcohol dry out the mouth.

Certain autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's (see below), Hodgkin's, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's can be the cause of dry mouth and eyes (and other dry areas of the body). Fibromyalgia is also a cause of dry mouth, eyes and other dryness problems (nose, breathing airways, intestines, and vagina).

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Diabetes and High Blood Pressure.

Nerve damage to head and/or neck that regulates saliva output.

Depression, anxiety and nervousness cause the salivary glands to produce less saliva.

Chewing less than you used to. If for any reason you are not chewing 'tough' foods anymore (like celery, meat, raw carrots, nuts) then the salivary glands decrease in size, producing less lubrication. As we age, we may tend to lean towards eating foods that are gentler on our teeth. This can cause less saliva production, although not so much that it should be a noticeable problem.

 

What Can You Do?

Chinese green tea (decaf), chamomile and ginger teas are helpful.

Chew tough foods. If you can't, see your dentist to take care of your teeth, or replace them, so that you can.

Do not use candies that are not sugarless! They create dental and blood sugar problems. Use diabetic sugarless candies when you want to suck on something. You might also try vitamin C chewable vitamins, or sucking on lemons or limes.

Chew sugarless gum. The best are Eclipse, Extra and Orbit, certified by the American Dental Association.

Decrease your sugar, carbohydrate and snack frequency.

Brush your teeth, and your tongue, more often. Make sure you floss regularly, everyday, after eating, especially after those tough foods.

Sip water while you are eating. There is a lubricant in saliva. Saliva is not just water, but sipping on water helps to wash down your food.

Colgate sells a product called Optimoist. It is a solution that is kind of like natural tears for eyes, except it is natural saliva' solution product. You might try a natural tear solution if your eyes are dry. Don't use solutions for getting the red out. They can be more damaging. There are many 'natural tear' solutions to choose from at the store. Wal-Mart sells two all natural products, one for dry eyes and one for allergic eyes. I know these work!

See your doctor. There are tests he can run to make sure there is not an underlying condition for your dryness.

 

As mentioned above, Sjogren's Syndrome often appears at the same time as menopause and is characterized by dry mouth, dry eyes and. sometimes. Burning mouth. Dry mouth often causes deterioration of the teeth and trouble swallowing. There may also be inflammation of the joints, kidneys, thyroid, nerves or other areas of the body. Women may experience severe fatigue and sleep disruption. Sjogren's patients blood tests may reveal antibodies that are directed against normal cellular substances (the body attacks its own cells). For this reason, Sjogren's Syndrome is considered an autoimmune disorder. FS and Sjogren's often have many of the same symptoms. There are no blood tests for Fibromyalgia, while, as already stated, there are for Sjogren's.

Other sypmpoms that may or may not be related to Sjogren's and are often misdiagnosed are:

Light-sensitive eyes.

Dry skin and dry, irritated nose.

Yeast infection in the mouth and/or on tongue.

Hoarseness while speaking and/or dry, nagging cough.

Vaginal dryness causing painful intercourse, or pain in general.

Dulled hearing and ear fullness. This happens when the immune system attacks the ears (AIED).

Damage and/or inflammation to lungs (causes breathlessness), kidney and liver.

Raynaud's phenomenom (increased sensitivity to cold causing white fingers).

Inflammation of the muscles in the shoulder/neck and pelvic areas.

Joint pain and stiffness, often in hands and feet.

Nerve and muscle pain and ache, especially on use.

Constipation caused by internal dryness.

Please see you doctor for blood tests if you have many of these symptoms and fear you may have an auto-immune disorder. It is better to know than to worry.

 

Visit my 'Tinnitus' page for more information if you have dryness and loss of hearing.

 

 

May Love & Energy Be Yours!

 

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Email: driftinggallion@yahoo.com