Dry mouth points to this serious illness

A dry mouth can be caused by several reasons, some of which are simple, such as aging, dehydration, breathing through the mouth, and smoking, while others are serious, such as sinusitis and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, infections, salivary gland tumors, and oral cancer, according to the German Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Furthermore, a dry mouth could be one of the side effects of some medications such as high blood pressure, epilepsy, and psychiatric medications, as well as antihistamines, sedatives, hypnotics, and radiotherapy for head and neck tumors, which damage the salivary glands.

The German Society explained that mouth dryness increases the risk of tooth decay and periodontitis, which could lead to tooth loss. 

A dry mouth could be treated by stimulating the production of saliva through drinking plenty of fluids, chewing food well, chewing gum, and quitting smoking, however, if the condition persists, the patient must consult a doctor, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as swollen salivary glands, foul odor coming from the mouth, sudden changes in taste, swallowing or speaking difficulties, and bleeding gums.

Source: DPA

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