Archive for the ‘Dry mouth syndrome’ Category
Dry Mouth Syndrome May be in Your Future
Thursday, August 27th, 2009
Xerostomia (fittingly pronounced zero-stomia) is a lack or deficiency in your production of saliva, more commonly called dry mouth syndrome (DMS).If you don’t have that condition, it doesn’t sound like such a serious thing, but if you are suffering from it, then suffering is an accurate description. Pain, swelling, difficulty in eating and even swallowing is a relentless curse. Also, if you don’t have xerostomia, this may be your only chance to avoid it, because the recovery rate is extremely low.
There are many factors that can cause or contribute to dry mouth, but let’s get to the heart of the matter and talk about the overwhelming winner, drugs. Illegal drugs certainly will dramatically increase the incidence of DMS, but if you’re using those, dry mouth would be the least of your problems. Typically, however, it is the elderly that have been taking medications for an extended period that suffer from DMS. Not that age is a factor, but the elderly have usually been taking medications the longest and their resistance to side effects is decreased. With expected medical advances, the percentage of the population over the age of 75 has been projected to rise to 12% in 2050, double what it was in 2005, and doubling the incidence of DMS. However, those figures were based on our current health care system. If congress passes their new health rationing bill, neglect will be the order of the day, not medicine, and you can just kiss those elderly people goodbye. Hey wait; you’ll probably be one of them!
Women are also much more likely to develop DMS. There has been very little research done on this subject, but again, we do know that women on the average take more medications than those stubborn men.
Most drugs cause DMS to some extent, but the ones that inhibit parasympathetic nerve impulses have the most effect. Those are classified as anticholinergic drugs, like atropine, and they are commonly used for dizziness, or to reduce spasms in smooth muscles, such as in the bladder, and oops, the salivary glands. Other drugs at the top of the DMS list are antidepressants, sedatives, antihistamines, blood pressure medications, drugs for epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and chemotherapy, and even nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol.
Although we have emphasized the role of drugs in xerostomia, there are of course other important considerations, systemic conditions being the most significant. Sjogren’s syndrome is the complete shutdown of salivary (and tear gland) excretions. This syndrome can appear without explanation, or as a secondary symptom of radiation treatment or other systemic problems. Those diseases that can cause DMS are rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, cirrhosis, HIV, depression, thyroiditis, pancreatitis, Down syndrome, kidney disease, anorexia, nutritional deficiency, dehydration, and many others.
Further health complications can then arise due to the lack of saliva. As the condition worsens, oral diseases can increase, going from cracking inside the mouth and on the tongue, to cavities, then gum infection, then pain, swelling, and secondary viral infections, until it becomes extremely difficult even to chew or swallow, resulting in poor nutrition.
In a recent study on xerostomia, Dr. Navazesh and Dr. Kumar developed a questionnaire to help clinicians diagnose dry mouth, which I’m sorry, you can summarize with one question, “Is your mouth usually dry?” They did however, offer a comprehensive protocol to help us determine the possible cause. It’s usually very difficult to reverse this condition, but sometimes discovering underlying causes can enable you to avoid an increase in the severity. For instance, if it is related to a medication, that drug can often be changed, reduced, or discontinued.
Therefore, your best chance to avoid DMS and many other diseases is to avoid drugs of all kinds. Unnecessary drugs, of course, legal and illegal, over-the-counter medications, and recreational drugs can be virtually eliminated. Don’t pop a pill every time you get a little symptom. These things add up over time. Your salivary glands are very fragile, and they’re one of the first things to reflect compromise to your endocrine, digestive, immune and nervous systems, which are the very targets of all drugs. Even with prescriptions, take control of your health. Become as knowledgeable about your medications as your physicians, and be prepared to challenge them about the side effects, interactions, necessity, efficacy, and alternatives. Especially scrutinize prescriptions that are given to possibly prevent conditions. A theoretical benefit is no match for an actual harmful effect.
If you are already getting dry mouth syndrome, besides having a dentist evaluate the possible causes and minimize the oral damages, there are drugs that can counteract those causes and stimulate saliva flow, as well as products to aid in cleansing and comforting. I have a local friend that has battled DMS for years, and has conducted his own trials of these products. His first choice is Optimoist spray by Colgate. It may be discontinued, so if you find it, please let us know. My friend has resigned to using his runner-up choice, which is the Salivasure Lozenge from www.scandinavianformulas.com. If you go the lozenge route, be sure they contain no sugar or even artificial sweeteners. Use Salivasure or Sparx by Xlear, which we carry. It contains Xylitol, which is a natural sweetener that actually prevents decay.
Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times on
8-11-09
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