Remote Health Care

Everyone needs saliva to moisten and cleanse our mouths and digest food. Saliva also prevents infection by continuously controlling the bacteria and fungi in the mouth. If a person doesn’t produce enough saliva, the mouth gets dry. Having a dry mouth can be uncomfortable and can lead to serious health problems.  It can cause difficulties in tasting, chewing, swallowing and speaking. It can increase the chance of developing dental decay and other infections in the mouth. It can also be a sign of certain diseases and conditions of the body or may be caused by certain medications or medical treatments.

A person can have dry mouth if the glands in the mouth that make saliva are not working properly. Because of this, there might not be enough saliva in the mouth to keep it wet. It can be due to some diseases that can affect the salivary glands. Examples of these diseases are diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, HIV/AIDS and many more. Medicines and drug prescriptions can also cause the salivary glands to make lesser saliva. Examples of these are the medicines for high blood pressure and depression. Drugs used in chemotherapy can make the saliva thicker thus causing the mouth to feel dry. Injury to the head or neck that causes nerve damage can also be an effect to dry mouth because the nerve can’t tell the salivary glands to make saliva. Radiation therapy can also damage the salivary glands if it is exposed to radiation due to cancer treatments.

If a person has dry mouth, he must avoid drinks with caffeine and alcohol because it can dry out the mouth. Sipping water during meals can help make chewing and swallowing easier. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless hard candy can stimulate the saliva flow on the mouth. Spicy and salty foods must be avoided because it can cause pain in a dry mouth.

Brushing the teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day can help keep the mouth healthy. Sticky and sugary foods must be avoided but if eaten, you must brush immediately. This is to avoid any cavity problems that most people with dry mouth often have.

There are some herbs that can have significant effects on dry mouth. They can provide effective herbal support for the particular state of dry mouth. Chamomile can be used in mouthwashes because it is good for minor mouth and gum infections. Echinacea can also be used because it is a saliva producer and significantly stimulated saliva.