Dry mouth involves a failure to generate an adequate supply of saliva to enable the mouth retain its moisture. Dry mouth is the direct result of limited saliva (spit) production.
Millions of Americans have dry mouth. Research estimates that one in four adults experiences dry mouth (Pharmacy Times). The number swells to 40 percent in people over 55 (Oral Health Foundation). It is a frequently occurring condition in home care and one private home health aides are ever mindful of.
Saliva production is intrinsic to a healthy mouth. Saliva does many things that are helpful for the body, including:
· Washing away food and debris
· Neutralizing harmful acids made by oral (mouth) bacteria
· Providing lubrication as we chew and swallow.
Saliva is an aid to digestion, oral hygiene, and pH balance. In addition to losing these key benefits, your mouth becomes dry and uncomfortable when not enough of it is produced.
This overview outlines dry mouth symptoms, causes, and important ways caregivers can relieve the condition.
What Are the Symptoms of Dry Mouth?
Simply put, dry mouth can give you a sensation of dryness or stickiness in your mouth. Likewise, it can produce feelings of burning or soreness as well. People with the condition may notice these symptoms all or most of the time:
· Thick and stringy saliva
· Trouble with tasting, chewing, and swallowing
· Dry or rough tongue
· Problems wearing dentures
· Inflammation of the lips (cheilitis)
· Bad breath (halitosis)
· Cracked lips
· Hoarseness in voice.
What Causes Dry Mouth?
Simply put, dry mouth can give you a sensation of dryness or stickiness in your mouth. Likewise, it can produce feelings of burning or soreness as well. People with the condition may notice these symptoms all or most of the time:
· Thick and stringy saliva
· Trouble with tasting, chewing, and swallowing
· Dry or rough tongue
· Problems wearing dentures
· Inflammation of the lips (cheilitis)
· Bad breath (halitosis)
· Cracked lips
· Hoarseness in voice.
How Can Caregivers Help Manage Dry Mouth
Dry mouth can happen for many reasons. However, what binds these causes is that the saliva the mouth needs to remain wet is not being adequately generated.
Causes of dry mouth are many and can include:
· Dehydration:
Dehydration—when your body loses too much fluid—can occur due to vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, or significant blood loss. When dehydrated, the body does not produce as much saliva as it does normally, which can cause the mouth to feel dry.
· Medication:
Dry mouth is a common side effect of prescription and over-the-counter medication. Medicines used to treat depression, anxiety, diarrhea, high blood pressure, and asthma are known to cause dry mouth in certain patients (United States National Library of Medicine). It is recommended that you speak with your doctor if you think any of the medications you take could cause mouth dryness.
· Radiation Therapy:
Dry mouth is a common side effect of radiation therapy for cancer treatment. This is especially true if the radiation is directed toward the head or neck. Radiation can impact the salivary glands, reducing saliva production.
Anxiety or Stress-Induced:
· Stress and anxiety cause the body to create the “stress hormone” cortisol. An increase in cortisol in saliva can affect its composition. A rise in cortisol production can result in mouth dryness.
· Older Age:
As people age, salivary gland function can decline. This leads to reduced saliva production. Another related factor is that many older adults take medications for chronic conditions, and decreased saliva output is a common side effect of these medications.
How Can Caregivers Help Manage Dry Mouth
Having dry mouth adds significant difficulty and burden to basic things like breathing, speaking, and swallowing.
Fortunately, private home health aides can ease the burden of dry mouth for their home care patients in the following ways:
· Sugar-Free Gum:
When properly monitored by a caregiver, chewing sugar-free gum makes an excellent choice for freshening breath and relieving dry mouth. The sucking motions associated with chewing gum stimulate saliva flow. It’s important to remember that gum needs to be sugar-free to minimize the risk of cavities and tooth wear, which worsen the condition.
· Water Intake:
People should be drinking 8 to 12 cups of water per day (Source: The Centers for Disease Control). Drinking plenty of water will help the mouth retain moisture. Caregivers can ensure clients are adequately supplied with enough water throughout the day by placing water bottles by the bedside at night.
· Moist Foods:
Private home health aides can moisten foods with broths, soups, and stews. Eating soft, moist foods at cool or room temperatures increases saliva production. This will also make it easier for the client to chew and swallow in turn.
· Low-Salt Diet:
Caregivers can help clients minimize their intake of salty or dry foods by providing low-salt options. By eating low-salt options, clients avoid dehydration caused by excessive salt consumption, a known culprit dry mouth. Salty foods can also aggravate pain in existing dry mouth.
· Fluoride Toothpaste:
When assisting a client with oral hygiene needs, caregivers can use fluoride-containing toothpaste. Fluoride formulations in toothpaste are known to stimulate salivary activity. Regularly brushing with fluoride toothpaste provides the additional moisture your mouth needs.
In Closing
As a condition, dry mouth is notoriously common and the risk of experiencing it increases with age. While frequently occurring, it can be a source of great discomfort for home care clients. Fortunately, private home health aides can help clients manage dry mouth with a combination of lifestyle changes.
