Dryness is a lack of saliva. And this liquid performs many functions, the main of which is antibacterial. It is saliva that resists the attacks of all kinds of infections. When the mouth is dry, harmful microorganisms begin to win and we get:

An unpleasant feeling as if the tongue sticks to the inside of the cheeks and palate (it is familiar to everyone who has ever experienced a hangover).
Chapped lips, sores in the mouth and corners of the lips.
Stale breath, against which brushing teeth and chewing gum are powerless: the smell reappears very quickly.
Red irritated tongue.
Problems with the definition of taste.
Problems with swallowing. Try to push a piece down your throat if there is not enough saliva in your mouth!
Difficulties with digestion. Poorly moistened with saliva food is harder to chew and digest. As a result, it is worse absorbed.
Increased risk of acute respiratory viral infections and ENT diseases.
Hoarseness, sometimes strangled to a nasal voice.
Dental problems: caries, gum inflammation.

All these symptoms significantly reduce the quality of life. Not to mention a blow to health: after all, the body is forced to waste energy on those infections that had to be delayed at the very entrance, and therefore can easily miss more dangerous violations.

Where does dry mouth come from

Reasons Dry Mouth / MedlinePlus can be very different.

Some believe that dry mouth is associated with aging. That's not so. Xerostomia (the official medical name of the condition) has nothing to do with age, it always has other prerequisites.

1. You don't have enough water

This is the most common case. If your mouth is dry, most likely you are not getting enough liquid. Or they have lost too much of it — this happens during intensive sports, during walks in the heat, or, for example, with digestive problems that are accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting.

2. Do you smoke

Tobacco smoke dries the mucosa and reduces M. Rad, S. Kakoie, F. N. Brojeni, N. Pourdamghan. Effect of Long-term Smoking on Whole-mouth Salivary Flow Rate and Oral Health / Journal of dental research, dental clinics, dental prospects saliva production. This is another reason to quit smoking.

3. You have a stuffy nose

Because of this, you breathe through your mouth. In conditions of insufficient humidity, this method of breathing can lead to drying of the mucous membrane.

4. Are you taking certain medications

The list of medications whose side effects indicate dry mouth is long. These include:

antihistamines;
decongestants;
a number of medications used to control high blood pressure (hypertension);
antidiarrheal remedies;
muscle relaxants;
antidepressants;

By the way, that's why dry mouth in the elderly is more common than in young people: they just take more all kinds of medications.

5. Are you undergoing radiation or chemotherapy

Procedures related to the treatment of oncological diseases can disrupt the work of the salivary glands.

6. Do you have or develop diabetes mellitus

Dry mouth is a frequent symptom of this condition. As a rule, it is accompanied by constant thirst and, as a result, frequent urination.

7. You develop an autoimmune disease

This can be rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid diseases (in particular, thyrotoxicosis), lupus and other disorders in which the immune system begins to attack the cells of its own body.

8. You are going through a lot of stress

When we are nervous, the body is not up to salivation. He is busy with the problem of choosing between "beat" or "run". Therefore, the mouth predictably dries up.

What to do if dry mouth appears regularly

There are several options.

1. Check if the salivary glands are working properly

This can be done at the dentist. If it turns out that your salivary glands are lazy, a doctor can prescribe medications and procedures (for example, electrical stimulation of the tongue and palate) that will bring them to their senses.

2. Chew more actively

The more vigorously you chew, the more H. Olsson, C. J. Spak, T. Axell. The effect of a chewing gum on salivary secretion, oral mucosal friction, and the feeling of dry mouth in xerostomic patients / Acta odontologica Scandinavica saliva is produced by the corresponding glands. Of course, it is ideal to chew something healthy, for example, fresh vegetables and fruits and other solid food. But if there is no such food at hand, chewing gum will do.

3. Try to breathe through your nose

Sometimes it's difficult — for example, when the nose is stuffy because of a cold. In this case, it is necessary to try to accelerate recovery.

However, there are other causes of congestion, such as polyps or curvature of the nasal septum. If it is difficult for you to breathe through your nose, but why — you yourself can't understand, be sure to consult with ENT. He will prescribe the necessary treatment.

4. Drink enough fluids

There are no exact norms . It's just important to drink before you feel thirsty, and make sure that the urine is colorless or light yellow.

If you do sports or physical labor, especially in the heat, do not forget to drink more.

5. Rinse your mouth regularly

You can just use water. Or you can use special means for rinsing, which the dentist will prescribe for you.

6. Quit smoking

Thank you will be told not only by the oral mucosa, but also by the body as a whole. And even a wallet.

7. Change the medicine

If you find dry mouth in the list of side effects, consult your doctor about replacing the drug with some less drying alternative.

8. Check with a doctor

Dry mouth can sometimes be the first and almost the only symptom of an approaching disease. Talk to your therapist about this. Most likely, the doctor will offer you to take blood tests (including thyroid hormones) and urine. And then, if necessary, prescribe treatment.

9. Try to be less nervous

There are many techniques that allow you to take stress under control. Learn to relax. This will improve not only salivation, but also impressions of life in general.