When the mouth
is dry
Every one of us has a dry mouth every now and then:
When we don't drink enough on hot days, when we eat certain foods or when we
“stop spitting” because of the hectic pace and stress. Usually a few sips
of water are enough to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling. However, if
the dry mouth persists, the causes should be found in order to avoid negative
health consequences. Medicines and naturopathic treatments are available
from naturopathy to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms.
Synonyms
Dry mouth; Dry
mouth; Xerostomia; dry oral mucosa, mouth dry.
Symptoms and
complaints of dry mouth
A dry mouth feels uncomfortable and is
often accompanied by a feeling of great thirst . Burning tongue and mouth ,
taste disturbances and discomfort when chewing and swallowing problems are also complained
of . Eating and speaking can be associated with discomfort, painful
areas, tongue and gum bleeding and bad breath .
The saliva is thick and the mucous membranes of the
mouth and tongue are dry as a result. As a result, the oral flora, which
consists of different bacterial strains, can be brought out of its natural
balance, so that the protection against invading germs is limited. Among
other things, yeasts can settle, which lead to a fungal infection of the mouth
and throat (oral thrush) or tongue fungus.
While pathogens accumulate in the mouth, digestion
(through the breakdown processes) of the food ingested is reduced at the same
time. Mineral loss of the teeth, tooth decay and digestive disorders occur as far-reaching
consequences of the disturbed microflora.
The dry mouth promotes painful inflammation
(stomatitis, canker sores) in the mouth, which often makes it impossible to
wear dentures or to eat regularly. An initially banal symptom such as a
dry mouth can lead to serious dental problems and malnutrition and thus to a
massive reduction in quality of life.
Common causes
of dry mouth
Dry mouth can result from a lack of fluids and is
a sign
of internal dehydration , especially
in older people , whereby saliva production seems to decrease with
advancing age anyway. People who smoke tobacco and cannabis, mainly
coffee, certain teas and sugary drinks, often suffer from dry oral
mucosa. Women are often affected in the menopause, whereby the hormonal
change causes the symptoms.
Dry mouth from
medication
In most cases, the symptom are caused by
medication, after all, at least 400 medications also cause dry mouth on the
side. These include drugs that act on the nervous system, such as
antidepressants, sedatives, and high blood pressure drugs. The same
applies to drugs that affect the metabolism. To be mentioned are antibiotics , diuretics, chemotherapeutic agents
as well as means for weight reduction and lowering of blood
lipids. Antiallergics, travel nausea and pain relievers also have dry
mouth as a side effect.
Diseases as a
cause of dry mouth
A dry mouth can appear as a symptom of various
diseases. Sjögren's syndrome, a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease
with reduced saliva and tear secretion, can be considered. Likewise, diabetes , Hodgkin's disease , Parkinson's disease and HIV / AIDS are often
associated with dry mouth and inflammation of the oral mucosa.
Stress and
anxiety
On a physical level, stress and fear go hand in
hand with arousal and activity of the sympathetic part of the autonomic nervous
system. Because the release of saliva by the salivary glands is controlled
by the parasympathetic part of the vegetative system, conditions that can be
traced back to permanent stress and feelings of anxiety lead to dry
mouth. The vernacular describes this connection excellently when it is
said that “the spit stays away”.
Naturopathy:
Therapy and Help
If underlying illnesses are responsible for the
symptoms, the therapy focuses on it. Conventionally, drugs are prescribed
to increase saliva production.
If medication is the reason for the symptoms, alternatives
should be sought with medical and naturopathic accompaniment: Medicines for
moderate depression , pain, high
blood pressure and increased fat levels (possibly due to lipid metabolism disorders ) can gradually be
supplemented with herbal or homeopathic medicines and ideally replaced .
The hormonal changes during menopause can also
be positively influenced by means of naturopathy . It should be noted, however, that plant drugs can also
cause dry mouth. In this case, homeopathic preparations are
preferred to alleviate typical menopausal symptoms such as hot
flashes, excessive sweating , palpitations and mood swings without unpleasant
side effects. Cimicifuga racemosa, Sanguinaria canadensis, Sepia and
Ignatia are particularly suitable.
Chewing stimulates the digestive process and thus
stimulates the salivary glands to secrete. If these are fully functional,
chewing gum or aromatic spices (fennel seeds) can stimulate the flow of saliva.
In case, care should be taken to ensure that there
is sufficient fluid intake in the form of water. Here, small children, old
people and people in need of care of all ages depend on the support of
relatives or caregivers, who should regularly remind people to drink and have
drinks ready.
Proven home
remedies for dry mouth caused by inflammation
To prevent or relieve irritation or inflammation in
the oral cavity, decoctions made from marshmallow root are suitable. The
mucilage in the plant has cooling and moisturizing properties, which also have
a protective effect on the mucous membranes. Sage, myrrh and chamomile
tinctures can weaken or kill harmful germs and thus represent an alternative to antibiotics from naturopathy .
If the dryness leads to inflammation of the oral
mucosa (stomatitis), a number of homeopathic remedies can help. If the
inflammation occurs mainly in connection with psychological stress, Hepar
Sulfuris can be used both for treatment and for prevention. Arnica
inhibits inflammation and has a decongestant and pain reliever.
In the case of pain in the gums, very dry mouth and
a bitter-putrid taste, Pulsatilla pratensis can be the drug of
choice. Krameria triandra is recommended if stomatitis causes a stinging
of the tongue, bad breath and swollen, easily bleeding gums.
Hypnosis
against stress and anxiety
If persistent stress with fear, inner restlessness and excessive demands are the
reason for the dry mouth, it is advisable to identify the stressors and to work
out alternatives in professional advice.
Working with self-organizing hypnosis procedures is
particularly effective in this regard, which in addition to revealing (“Where
does the problem come from?”) Also contains solution-oriented components (“What
can I do to get rid of the problem?”). In addition, the state of hypnosis
already leads to relaxation and switching of the vegetative functions, which
can already lead to increased salivation.
