The saliva present in the mouth serves to lubricate and reduce friction in the mouth, the structures in the mouth are delicate and the presence of saliva to reduce friction helps prevent injury to the tissues, helps prevent us from biting our tongue during speech. In addition, saliva contains some enzymes and substances which help us to digest food in the mouth and make it easier to swallow; there is some antibacterial effect of bacteria and washes away food debris.

 

When the mouth is dry it therefore gives a cause for concern and this affects some of the earlier mentioned functions of the saliva present in the mouth.

 

There are several reasons why the mouth may be dry; we will examine some of these pathological and non pathological states that can lead to the dryness of the mouth also known as xerostomia.

 

Psychogenic

There are people who complain of the presence of dry mouth only to discover on examination that the tissues are properly hydrated and moist, such could be as a result of a psychogenic or psychological disorder.

 

Complications of some medication

Certain prescribed drugs used to treat a condition may lead to dry mouth as a side effect, in such instances the cessation of such medication may lead to the dry mouth abating.

 

Diseases symptoms

In certain conditions and infections in the body like from HIV human immunodeficiency virus AIDS infection, Sjogrens syndrome, dry mouths and even dry eyes may result.

 

Cancer treatment

Sometimes radiotherapy may be used to treat certain forms of cancers. In the course of this treatment, not only cancer cells end up being killed, some cells of the saliva producing glands may also be damaged thus, as the radiotherapy rays damage the cancerous cells non cancerous cells are similarly killed. There are efforts to minimise these occurrences but despite the best of intentions, these do occur as a complication of regular treatment. Some cells and tissues such as the bone, the reproductive organs and thyroid amongst others.are however more susceptible than the others

 

Sympatomimetic drugs

The nervous system is both designated as sympathetic and parasympathetic based on the effects produced by their stimulation. Drugs that lead to similar actions as sympathetic stimulation which causes reduced production of secretion from the glands in the body.

 

Diabetes mellitus

People diagnosed with diabetes mellitus are prone to having dry mouth.

 

Diseases of the salivary glands.

Naturally, any disease that affects these structures that produce saliva will lead to production of dry mouth just as when salivary glands are poorly developed from birth.

 

Loss of water from the body

Anything that will lead to loss of fluids and water or any imbalance in the body fluid dynamics such as vomiting, diarrhoea, fasting, thirst or inability to take enough fluids will lead to dry mouth.

 

Similarly, failure or dysfunction of the renal system (kidneys). May result in dry mouth because the kidneys are essential in the balance of the water content in the body.

 

Other drugs such as antidepressant, narcoleptic drugs and lithium can also cause dry mouth

 

Dry mouth could lead to a high level of mouth and throat infections as the antibiotic effect from saliva are diminished if the saliva is in low quantities.

 

Dentists can help by prescribing substitute or artificial saliva, symptomatic relief by using adhesives to hold dentures which may however be uncomfortable to wearers who have dry mouth, most especially the upper dentures. Saliva flow could be stimulated through the use of sugar-free chewing gums and certain drugs like pilocarpine.

 

To avoid dry mouth arising from raditotherapy, efforts should be made to guard the head and neck from radiotherapy and minimise the effects of the treatment on the salivary glands, If the cause is a prescribed medication at the end of treatment the xerostomia will gradually disappear.

 

By Dr. Samuel Awosolu